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heliotrope

 - 5 dictionary results

he⋅li⋅o⋅trope

[hee-lee-uh-trohp, heel-yuh- or, especially Brit., hel-yuh-]
–noun
1. any hairy plant belonging to the genus Heliotropium, of the borage family, as H. arborescens, cultivated for its small, fragrant purple flowers.
2. any of various other plants, as the valerian or the winter heliotrope.
3. any plant that turns toward the sun.
4. a light tint of purple; reddish lavender.
5. Surveying. an arrangement of mirrors for reflecting sunlight from a distant point to an observation station.
6. bloodstone.

Origin:
1580–90; < MF héliotrope < L hēliotropium < Gk hēliotrópion (see helio-, -trope ); cf. ME elitropium, elitropius, OE eliotropus < ML

blood⋅stone

[bluhd-stohn]
–noun
a greenish variety of chalcedony with small bloodlike spots of red jasper scattered through it.
Also called heliotrope.


Origin:
1545–55; blood + stone
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To heliotrope
blood·stone   (blŭd'stōn')   
n.  A variety of deep-green chalcedony flecked with red jasper. Also called heliotrope.
he·li·o·trope   (hēl'lē-ə-trōp')   
n.  
    1. Any of several plants of the genus Heliotropium, especially H. arborescens, native to Peru and having small, highly fragrant purplish flowers. Also called turnsole.

    2. The garden heliotrope.

    3. Any of various plants that turn toward the sun.

  1. See bloodstone.

  2. A moderate, light, or brilliant violet to moderate or deep reddish purple.


[Middle English elitrope (from Old English eliotropus) and French héliotrope, both from Latin hēliotropium, from Greek hēliotropion : hēlio-, helio- + tropos, turn; see trope.]
he'li·o·trope' adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

heliotrope 
"plant which turns its flowers and leaves to the sun," c.1626, from Fr. heliotrope, from L. heliotropium, from Gk. heliotropion, from helios "sun" (see sol) + tropos "turn." The word was applied c.1000-1600 in L. form to sunflowers and marigolds.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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