Veronica

UK: /vəˈrɒnɪkə/ US: 'Veronica', 'veronica': (və ron′i kə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ve•ron•i•ca¹  (və ron′i kə), n. (sometimes cap.) [Eccles.]

1. the image of the face of Christ, said in legend to have been miraculously impressed on the handkerchief or veil that St. Veronica gave to Him to wipe His face on the way to Calvary.
2. the handkerchief or veil itself.
3. Also called sudarium. any handkerchief, veil, or cloth bearing a representation of the face of Christ. Also called vernicle. 

• Medieval Latin veronica, alleged to be an alteration of vēra īconica true image (see very, icon), subsequently also taken as the name of the woman who gave Christ the cloth
• 1690–1700

ve•ron•i•ca²  (və ron′i kə), n. 

1. Plant Biology any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Veronica, of the figwort family, having opposite leaves and clusters of small flowers, as the speedwell.

• Neo-Latin or Medieval Latin, perh. after veronica¹ or St. Veronica (but compare Medieval Greek bereníkion plant name, equivalent. to Bereník(ē) proper name + -ion diminutive suffix)
• 1520–30

ve•ron•i•ca³  (və ron′i kə), n. 

1. Sport (in bullfighting) a pass in which the matador keeps his feet and legs absolutely still while slowly swinging the open cape away from the charging bull.

• Spanish verónica probably literally, veronica¹
• 1925–30

Ve•ron•i•ca  (və ron′i kə), n. 

1. a female given name.

Also, Ve•ron′i•ka. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

veronica / vəˈrɒnɪkə/ noun

1. any scrophulariaceous plant of the genus Veronica, esp the speedwells, of temperate and cold regions, having small blue, pink, or white flowers and flattened notched fruits

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin, perhaps from the name Veronica

veronica / vəˈrɒnɪkə/ noun

1. a pass in which the matador slowly swings the cape away from the charging bull

Etymology: from Spanish, from the name Veronica