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• columbine
  columbine

  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.
• Columbine
  Columbine

  noun

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

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 ( see 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; see columbine ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

columbine Columbine

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

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

From Time ● Sep. 24, 2017

The air smelled like stagnant water, rotting wood, pine and sweet columbine.

From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2016

Our days will be spent hiking nearby peaks, exploring a rock garden in a not-too-distant canyon, playing Scrabble, preparing big, nourishing meals, admiring the columbine, lupine and larkspur, and simply taking it all in.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 25, 2015

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

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Ask Sue Klebold, mother of one of the Columbine killers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

The attack occurred on April 20, which is both Hitler’s birthday and the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 21, 2026

In that case, Columbine parents fought for access to the records, believing they would show a cover-up by the local sheriff.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 24, 2023

Sadly there are mentions of the Sandy Hook and Columbine school shootings alongside mentions of Michael Jackson's demise, Kim Jong-un, Meghan Markle and George Floyd.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2023

“Ah well, Hare’s the family name, don't y’know. My parents named me Basil, though the old mater wanted me to be called Columbine Agnes. Always longed for a young lass, she did.”

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques