columbine

¹ American  

[kol-uhm-bahyn] / ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn /

noun

1. a plant, Aquilegia caerula, of the buttercup family, having showy flowers with white petals and white to blue sepals that form long, backward spurs: the state flower of Colorado.

2. any of various other plants of the genus Aquilegia, characterized by divided leaves and showy flowers of various colors.

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columbine ² American  

[kol-uhm-bahyn, -bin] / ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn, -bɪn /

adjective

1. of a dove.

2. dovelike; dove-colored.

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Columbine ³ American  

[kol-uhm-bahyn] / ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn /

noun

1. a female character in commedia dell'arte and pantomime: sweetheart of Harlequin.

2. a female given name.

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Columbine ¹ British  

/ ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn /

noun

1. (originally) the character of a servant girl in commedia dell'arte

2. (later) the sweetheart of Harlequin in English pantomime

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columbine ² British  

/ ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn /

noun

1. Also called: aquilegia.  any plant of the ranunculaceous genus Aquilegia, having purple, blue, yellow, or red flowers with five spurred petals

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columbine ³ British  

/ ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a dove

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Etymology

Origin of columbine¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Medieval Latin columbīna ( herba ) dovelike (plant), feminine of Latin columbīnus ( columbine ² ); the inverted flower looks like a group of doves

Origin of columbine²

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin columbīnus, equivalent to columb ( a ) dove + -īnus -ine ¹

Origin of Columbine³

1720–30; < Italian Columbina literally, dovelike girl; columbine ²

Example Sentences

You can help your gardens along by selecting plants that re-seed themselves — flowers such as columbine, coreopsis, and lupine will self-sow and spread throughout your gardens each year.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2022

Thick vegetation lines the trail, including giant cottonwood, creek dogwood, willow and red cedar trees, as well as various species of fern, red columbine, thistle, wild ginger and dozens of other native plants.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2022

In his absence, my attention immediately shifted to something his presence had obscured — a golden columbine bush.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2019

A short-lived perennial, columbine grows best in well-drained soil with afternoon shade.

From Time • Sep. 24, 2017

I add bouquets of columbine, fennel, and daisies from my garden.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein