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

Even something as charming as columbine can overdo itself, so I deadhead a portion of the seed heads.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2021

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