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buttercup

American  
[buht-er-kuhp] / ˈbʌt ərˌkʌp /

noun

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

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of buttercup

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

If you have to go out, mask up buttercup!

From Slate • Jun. 7, 2023

I ended up getting a yellow dress with a full skirt that flew out like a buttercup when I twirled around.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.