heath

noun

ˈhēth 

1

a

: a tract of wasteland

b

: an extensive area of rather level open uncultivated land usually with poor coarse soil, inferior drainage, and a surface rich in peat or peaty humus

2

a

: any of a family (Ericaceae, the heath family) of shrubby dicotyledonous and often evergreen plants that thrive on open barren usually acid and ill-drained soil

especially : an evergreen subshrub of either of two genera (Erica and Calluna) with whorls of needlelike leaves and clusters of small flowers

b

: any of various plants that resemble true heaths

heathless

ˈhēth-ləs 

adjective

heathlike

ˈhēth-ˌlīk 

adjective

heathy

ˈhē-thē 

adjective

Synonyms

• campo
• champaign
• down(s)
• grassland
• lea
• ley
• llano
• moor
• pampa
• plain
• prairie
• savanna
• savannah
• steppe
• tundra
• veld
• veldt

Examples of heath in a Sentence

not much grows on the heath besides heather

drove through a vast, empty heath that seemingly had no end

Word History

Etymology

Middle English heth, from Old English hǣth; akin to Old High German heida heather, Old Welsh coit forest

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing heath

• heath hen

Kids Definition

heath

noun

ˈhēth 

1

: any of a family of shrubby often evergreen plants that grow well on open barren usually acid and poorly drained soil

especially : a low evergreen shrub with needlelike leaves and clusters of small flowers

2

: a usually level area of land overgrown with low shrubs

heathy

ˈhē-thē 

adjective

Biographical Definition

Heath

biographical name

ˈhēth 

Sir Edward (Richard George) 1916–2005 British prime minister (1970–74)