delphinium

[ del-fin-ee-uhm ]

noun,plural del·phin·i·ums, del·phin·i·a [del-fin-ee-uh]. /dɛlˈfɪn i ə/.
  1. any of numerous plants of the genus Delphinium, especially any of various tall, cultivated species having usually blue, pink, or white flowers.

Origin of delphinium

1
1655–65; <New Latin <Greek delphī́nion larkspur, derivative of delphī́s (stem delphīn-) dolphin; so called from the shape of the nectary

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How to use delphinium in a sentence

  • The salon bleu drew its name from the thousands of delphiniums blossoming from the walls.

  • Delphiniums are hardy and long-lived (unless the worm gets them), and, once planted, they live a dozen years.

    A Woman's Hardy Garden | Helena Rutherfurd Ely
  • Delphiniums are greedy feeders, and pay for rich cultivation and for liberal manurial mulches and waterings.

    Wood and Garden | Gertrude Jekyll
  • It is true that in the early days of July we have Delphiniums, the grandest blues of the flower year.

    Wood and Garden | Gertrude Jekyll
  • There are the delphiniums, and some pansies and some pinks, and a great many purple irises.

    In the Mountains | Elizabeth von Arnim

British Dictionary definitions for delphinium

delphinium

/ (dɛlˈfɪnɪəm) /


nounplural -iums or -ia (-ɪə)
  1. any ranunculaceous plant of the genus Delphinium: many varieties are cultivated as garden plants for their spikes of blue, pink, or white spurred flowers: See also larkspur

Origin of delphinium

1
C17: New Latin, from Greek delphinion larkspur, from delphis dolphin, referring to the shape of the nectary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012