celandine

American  

[sel-uhn-dahyn, -deen] / ˈsɛl ənˌdaɪn, -ˌdin /

noun

1. Also called greater celandine,.  Also called swallowwort.  an Old World plant, Chelidonium majus, of the poppy family, having yellow flowers.

2. Also called lesser celandine.  an Old World plant, Ranunculus ficaria, of the buttercup family, having fleshy, heart-shaped leaves and solitary yellow flowers.

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celandine British  

/ ˈsɛlənˌdaɪn /

noun

1. either of two unrelated plants, Chelidonium majus (greater celandine) or Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine) See greater celandine lesser celandine

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Etymology

Origin of celandine

1275–1325; Middle English selandyne, variant of celydon < Latin chelīdonia greater celandine, chelīdonium lesser celandine < Greek chelīdónion, derivative of chelīdṓn swallow; said to be so called because it blooms when the swallows return in spring

Example Sentences

Kelli Rudolph and Dunstan Lowe lost their daughter Celandine at five days old, after she was born at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2022

Elana Frankel: For cotton, Celandine, the One Kings Lane brand, has simple embroidered hem motifs that are tailored and clean with artisanal details. For linen, Modern Plum is more contemporary, still simple, but inspired by architecture.

From Forbes • Aug. 26, 2014

The lesser Celandine furnishes a golden yellow volatile oil, which is readily converted into anemonic acid.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas

Maybe it was Mr. Mecutchen that had spoken of the ice-cream, and Celandine was going to put Georgiana in the cars and send her home.

From Lippincott's Magazine, November 1885 by Various

The starry Celandine, Anemone, so fair, The yellow Primrose, sweet, Lily, with fragrance rare.

From Games Without Music for Children by Bates, Lois