Lewis & Short

rŏsa, ae, f. [kindr. with ῤόδον], a rose.

  1. I. Lit., Varr R. R. 1, 35, 1; Plin. 21, 4, 10, § 14: Paestanae rosae, Mart. 4, 42, 10: cape rosas, id. 2, 59, 3; sacred to Venus, Aus. Idyll. 14; cf. id. ib. 6, 76 and 92; blooms latest of the spring flowers, Plin. 21, 11, 38, § 64.
    Hence, sera, Hor. C. 1, 38, 3; cf. Cicero’s reproach: cum rosam viderat, tum incipere ver arbitrabatur, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27.
    Used on festive and solemn occasions for wreaths, for strewing in the way or upon graves, at feasts, etc., Lucr. 2, 627; Hor. C. 1, 36, 15; 2, 11, 14; 3, 19, 22; 29, 3; Prop. 1, 17, 22; 3, 5 (4, 4), 22; 4 (5), 8, 40; Plin. 18, 26, 64, § 236; Sen. Hippol. 769; Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 34; Tac. H. 2, 70 et saep.; cf. Becker, Gall. 3, p. 32 (2d edit.): plena rosarum Atria. Ov. M. 2, 113.
    Prov.: inter vepres rosae nascuntur, Amm. 16, 7, 4.
    1. B. Collect., for roses, wreaths of roses (only so in class. prose): sertis redimiri jubebis et rosā? Cic. Tusc. 3, 18, 43: an tu me in violā putabas aut in rosā dicere? on, among roses, id. ib. 5, 26, 73: in rosā potare, id. Fin. 2, 20, 65: jacere, Sen. Ep. 36, 9: vivere, Mart. 8, 77, 2; cf.: multā in rosā, Hor. C. 1, 5, 1: pulvinus perlucidus rosā fartus, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. As a word of endearment, in Plautus: mea rosa, my rose, my rosebud, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 74; id. Bacch. 1, 1, 50; or simply rosa, id. Men. 1, 3, 9: tu mihi rosa es, id. Curc. 1, 2, 6.
    2. B. Oil of roses, Cels. 8, 3; 4; 6, 18, 8.
    3. C. The season or month of roses, Inscr. Grut. 753, 4; cf. rosales.
    4. D. The rose-bush, rose-tree: nimium breves Flores amoenae ferre jube rosae, Hor. C. 2, 3, 14: radix silvestris rosae, Plin. 8, 41, 63, § 152.
      Plur.: flores rosarum, Lucr. 2, 627; cf. Hor. C. 3, 29, 3: terram ad rosarum et vineae satum vertere, Plin. 18, 26, 64, § 236.