ˈrōz(ə)rē, -)ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English rosarie, from Latin rosarium rose garden, from neuter of rosarius of roses, from rosa rose + -arius -ary; in other senses, from Medieval Latin rosarium string of beads used in counting prayers, series of prayers, from Latin, rose garden — more at rose
1.
a. : a bed or bush of roses
b. : a place where roses grow
2. : a string of beads used in counting prayers ; specifically : a string of beads by which the prayers of the Roman Catholic rosary are counted — compare chaplet
3.
a. often capitalized : a form of devotion to the Virgin Mary in the Roman Catholic Church that consists of the recitation of usually five decades of Ave Marias preceded each by a paternoster and ended with a gloria
b. : a devotional exercise among other religious groups marked by the use of beads
a Buddhist rosary
4. medicine : beading f