View synonyms for heliotrope

heliotrope

[ hee-lee-uh-trohp, heel-yuh-or, especially British, hel-yuh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any hairy plant belonging to the genus Heliotropium, of the borage family, as H. arborescens, cultivated for its small, fragrant purple flowers.
any of various other plants, as the valerian or the winter heliotrope.
any plant that turns toward the sun.
a light tint of purple; reddish lavender.
Surveying. an arrangement of mirrors for reflecting sunlight from a distant point to an observation station.
bloodstone.

heliotrope

/ ˈhiːlɪəˌtrəʊp; ˈhɛljə- /

noun

any boraginaceous plant of the genus Heliotropium, esp the South American H. arborescens, cultivated for its small fragrant purple flowers
garden heliotrope
garden heliotrope a widely cultivated valerian, Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers
any of various plants that turn towards the sun
1. a bluish-violet to purple colour
2. ( as adjective )
  a heliotrope dress
an instrument used in geodetic surveying employing the sun's rays reflected by a mirror as a signal for the sighting of stations over long distances
See bloodstone
another name for bloodstone

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Word History and Origins

Origin of heliotrope¹

1580–90; < Middle French héliotrope < Latin hēliotropium < Greek hēliotrópion ( helio-, -trope ); compare Middle English elitropium, elitropius, Old English eliotropus < Medieval Latin

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Word History and Origins

Origin of heliotrope¹

C17: from Latin hēliotropium, from Greek hēliotropion, from hēlios sun + trepein to turn

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Example Sentences

Delicate, refined, perfectly poised, and Kitty beside her like a sunflower to a sprig of heliotrope!

From Project Gutenberg

Was this garden, which was all white, in any way connected with the sunbeams and heliotrope?

From Project Gutenberg

Heliotrope is the name of the scent, my dear, but please do not allude to it again.

From Project Gutenberg

The coat, hanging open, displayed a soft shirt of no uncertain shade of heliotrope.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the Heliotrope or Solsequium or Turnesol of our forefathers, and is the flower often alluded to under that name.

From Project Gutenberg

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