China rosen. Any of several roses first cultivated in China and imported to Europe in the late 18th century. China roses were often used in breeding new varieties.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.China rose n 1. (Plants) a rosaceous shrub, Rosa chinensis (or R. indica), with red, pink, or white fragrant flowers: the ancestor of many cultivated roses 2. (Plants) a related dwarf plant, Rosa semperflorens, having crimson flowers 3. (Plants) another name for hibiscus Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014Chi?na rose? n. 1. a rose, Rosa chinensis, of China, with crimson, pink, or white flowers. 2. hibiscus (def. 1). [1725?35] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.