columbine

[ kol-uh m-bahyn ]

/ ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn /

noun

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.

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

Nearby words

columbia heights, columbia mental maturity scale, columbia river, columbian, columbic, columbine, columbite, columbium, columbous, columbus, columbus air force base

Origin of columbine

1275–1325; Middle English < Medieval Latin columbīna (herba) dovelike (plant), feminine of Latin columbīnus (see columbine²); the inverted flower looks like a group of doves

Definition for columbine (2 of 3)

columbine

[ kol-uh m-bahyn, -bin ]

/ ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn, -bɪn /

adjective

of a dove.

dovelike; dove-colored.

Origin of columbine

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin columbīnus, equivalent to columb(a) dove + -īnus -ine¹

Definition for columbine (3 of 3)

Columbine

[ kol-uh m-bahyn ]

/ ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn /

noun

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

a female given name.

Origin of Columbine

1720–30; < Italian Columbina literally, dovelike girl; see columbine²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for columbine

In the eyes of the NRA, Rambo is as grave a threat to gun rights as The Fonz—or the director of Bowling for Columbine.
Rambo Hates Guns: How Sylvester Stallone Became the Most Anti-Gun Celeb in Hollywood|Asawin Suebsaeng|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gun massacres like Newtown and Columbine can destroy communities, families, and schools.
Hands Off Those Gun Laws, Judges|Eric Segall|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But school-based arrests in Pennsylvania alone went up by 300 percent since Columbine.
‘Kids for Cash’: Crooked Judge, Damaged Teens, and the Perils of Zero Tolerance|Ronald K. Fried|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Before Columbine, juvenile crime had been coming down,” May said.
‘Kids for Cash’: Crooked Judge, Damaged Teens, and the Perils of Zero Tolerance|Ronald K. Fried|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In a kind of manifesto, the Virginia Tech killer had written about the two Columbine killers.
What if the Founding Fathers Saw Newtown?|Michael Daly|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That Columbine would have enlightened her had she done so was exceedingly doubtful.
The Tidal Wave and Other Stories|Ethel May Dell
Columbine rode into a thick clump of spruces that had long, shelving branches, reaching down.
The Mysterious Rider|Zane Grey
The boat had shipped much water, the crew were worn out, and had some trouble to row back to Columbine.
Wyndham's Pal|Harold Bindloss
And when he wore a serious face for Columbine something had indeed happened.
The Mysterious Rider|Zane Grey
Nedda, dressed as Columbine, goes about with a plate and collects money.
The Complete Opera Book|Gustav Kobb

British Dictionary definitions for columbine (1 of 3)

columbine

/ (ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn) /

noun

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

Word Origin for columbine

C13: from Medieval Latin columbīna herba dovelike plant, from Latin columbīnus dovelike, from the resemblance of the flower to a group of doves

British Dictionary definitions for columbine (2 of 3)

columbine

/ (ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn) /

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling a dove

Word Origin for columbine

C14: from Old French colombin, from Latin columbīnus dovelike, from columba dove

British Dictionary definitions for columbine (3 of 3)

Columbine

/ (ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn) /

noun

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

(later) the sweetheart of Harlequin in English pantomime

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