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primrose
primrosenounany plant of the genus Primula, as P. vulgaris English primrose, of Europe, having yellow flowers, or P. sinensis Chinese primrose, of China, having flowers in a variety of colors.
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Primrose
PrimrosenounArchibald Philip, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of.
primrose
1 Americannoun
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primroses
plural
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any plant of the genus Primula, as P. vulgaris English primrose, of Europe, having yellow flowers, or P. sinensis Chinese primrose, of China, having flowers in a variety of colors.
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pale yellow.
adjective
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of or relating to the primrose.
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Also primrosed abounding in primroses.
a primrose garden.
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of a pale yellow.
noun
noun
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any of various temperate primulaceous plants of the genus Primula, esp P. vulgaris of Europe, which has pale yellow flowers
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short for evening primrose
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Also called: primrose yellow. a light to moderate yellow, sometimes with a greenish tinge
adjective
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of, relating to, or abounding in primroses
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of the colour primrose
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pleasant or gay
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of primrose
1375–1425; late Middle English primerose < Medieval Latin prīma rosa first rose
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.
See Examples For:
In Borrego Springs, you’ll find a mini explosion of sunflowers, desert sand-verbena, basket evening primrose and even elusive desert lilies.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2026
"You can't argue with a primrose, they're absolutely glorious... red campions will flower all year round, and they are just so beneficial to all sorts of insects and wildlife," she said.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
At field sites in eastern Washington, the researchers collected scent samples from pale evening primrose flowers.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 8, 2024
Everything from the primrose to the milkweed to the Echinacea purpurea, is allowed to flourish.
From National Geographic ● Jul. 20, 2023
I start a small fire in the outdoor fireplace, wrap the primrose and artichoke in maple leaves, and clip some young shoots of a pokeweed.
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
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Sally Lugg from Primrose Herd Butchery said her business had lost "at least £10,000".
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
Andy Primrose, who runs a small hostel on Ulva, said the bumper year had boosted small businesses on the island.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
The Lescoulies’ cows were in Venice; a Mr. Martin kept his on Primrose Avenue in Hollywood, where the early farmhouse was lately priced at about $2 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026
Dr Primrose Freestone, an associate professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, says it can lead to symptoms for what is known as sick building syndrome.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2025
During her stay in Primrose Hill she borrowed her uncles typewriter, took over the dining room and typed out her final draft with her forefingers.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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After the long British winter, creamy primroses and pink campions push out from the banks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
Add cold-season plantings like primroses, pansies, heather and cyclamen to pots and window boxes.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
The metal base would include a glass mosaic depicting yellow primroses on stems with leaves of many shades of green.
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2023
Evening primroses are thin and crinkled with a tissue-like texture, which is one of my favorite textures to incorporate in my work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2022
There was hawthorn both pink and white, and primroses and buttercups carpeted the fields with yellow.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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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.