delphinium
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does delphinium mean? A delphinium is a tall plant with blue, purple, pink, or white flowers. The flower itself is also commonly called a delphinium. The plural is delphiniums or delphinia. The genus Delphinium includes more than 300 species, and any of these can be referred to as a delphinium. Another name for the delphinium is larkspur (though not all flowers referred to as larkspurs are in the genus Delphinium). Delphiniums are part of the family Ranunculaceae. Delphinium is one of the July birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). The blue variety is popular in bouquets. Example: I planted delphiniums behind the rose bush to give it a nice backdrop.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of delphinium
1655–65; < New Latin < Greek delphī́nion larkspur, derivative of delphī́s (stem delphīn- ) dolphin; so called from the shape of the nectary
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:
She paired that with Dior pale delphinium silk pumps.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
Only the gardener knows the cutworms are winning, or that those billowing cosmos fill in the bare space where the delphinium died.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
They were out of baby’s breath, but on the floor around them were buckets of thousands of donated blooms — fragrant lilies, roses and carnations, blue delphinium, stalky allium and green bells of Ireland.
From Washington Post ● May 30, 2022
Inside the clothes were too; crepe dresses and trousers bore allover botanical prints, a white sheath dress was embroidered with a single camellia and delphinium vine embroidery climbed along dresses and trousers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2020
“Sorry,” I said in a small voice as I crouched down behind a lavender delphinium.
From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos
The alkaloid delphinia may also be employed, but possesses no advantage except in the preparation of an ointment, when from any reason that form of application should be preferred.
From Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 by Burroughs, Barkham
In 1972, the Mellanos moved to Oceanside, where they still own 400 acres for asters, waxflowers, alstroemeria, delphiniums and foliage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2024
It’s not uncommon for cabbage, kale and blueberries to dot flower beds filled with peonies, delphiniums, roselilies and beyond.
From Seattle Times ● May 22, 2024
Tables will be festooned with pink roses, Australian eucalyptus, dahlias and delphiniums.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 25, 2023
And bigger doesn’t have to mean awkward or unsightly; many “graceful” garden favorites such as delphiniums, fennel, gaura and agastache are famed for their tall stature, he added.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2023
All the morning the gardeners were bringing flowers into the house, the last of the white lilac, and great lupins and delphiniums, roses in hundreds, and every sort of lily.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
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.
