heliotrope
Americannoun
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any hairy plant belonging to the genus Heliotropium, of the borage family, as H. arborescens, cultivated for its small, fragrant purple flowers.
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any of various other plants, as the valerian or the winter heliotrope.
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any plant that turns toward the sun.
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a light tint of purple; reddish lavender.
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Surveying. an arrangement of mirrors for reflecting sunlight from a distant point to an observation station.
noun
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any boraginaceous plant of the genus Heliotropium, esp the South American H. arborescens, cultivated for its small fragrant purple flowers
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a widely cultivated valerian, Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers
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any of various plants that turn towards the sun
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a bluish-violet to purple colour
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( as adjective )
a heliotrope dress
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an instrument used in geodetic surveying employing the sun's rays reflected by a mirror as a signal for the sighting of stations over long distances
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another name for bloodstone
Etymology
Origin of heliotrope
1580–90; < Middle French héliotrope < Latin hēliotropium < Greek hēliotrópion ( see helio-, -trope); compare Middle English elitropium, elitropius, Old English eliotropus < Medieval Latin
Vocabulary lists containing heliotrope
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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.
Forest Service 39, the route to fantastic Heliotrope Ridge, is also closed due to damage caused by the 2021 flood.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 1, 2023
At Heliotrope, about one in three students were expected to return initially.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2021
For this article, Rupee Bar’s designer, Heliotrope Architects, declined to confirm its win, citing the foundation’s request for silence.
From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2020
Heliotrope, gamboge, umber: the names of colours are as luscious as the hues themselves.
From Nature • Nov. 15, 2016
"My precious Goldenrod!" cried the Countess of Heliotrope, "I fear she will catch it!"
From Marjorie's New Friend by Wells, Carolyn
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.
