buttercup

American  

[buht-er-kuhp] / ˈbʌt ərˌkʌp /

noun

buttercups plural

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Ranunculus, having glossy yellow flowers and deeply cut leaves.

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buttercup British  

/ ˈbʌtəˌkʌp /

noun

1. any of various yellow-flowered ranunculaceous plants of the genus Ranunculus , such as R. acris (meadow buttercup), which is native to Europe but common throughout North America See also crowfoot goldilocks spearwort lesser celandine

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• buttercups
  plural

Etymology

Origin of buttercup

1505–15; butter + cup, from color and shape of flower

Example Sentences

They have bucked up, buttercup, and look at them now.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

Well, buckle up, buttercup, because here you’ll find an assortment of day hikes and weekend camping ideas that will have you filing for vacation before you realize you’re typing an email to your boss.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025

The look - a red suit paired with a buttercup yellow shirt and eel-skin cape - was partly inspired by Burna Boy's Nigerian roots.

From BBC • May 16, 2025

Dot, who’s called a “tiger” by a formidable foe, is a tiny woman with a cheerful smile and a reassuring voice who favors buttercup yellow and thrift store fashion.

From Salon • Dec. 6, 2023

Sean took off his fly, tied on a plain hook, picked a buttercup and stuck it on the hook, cast, and caught a fish.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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