heliotrope
Americannoun
-
any hairy plant belonging to the genus Heliotropium, of the borage family, as H. arborescens, cultivated for its small, fragrant purple flowers.
-
any of various other plants, as the valerian or the winter heliotrope.
-
any plant that turns toward the sun.
-
a light tint of purple; reddish lavender.
-
Surveying. an arrangement of mirrors for reflecting sunlight from a distant point to an observation station.
noun
-
any boraginaceous plant of the genus Heliotropium, esp the South American H. arborescens, cultivated for its small fragrant purple flowers
-
a widely cultivated valerian, Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers
-
any of various plants that turn towards the sun
-
-
a bluish-violet to purple colour
-
( as adjective )
a heliotrope dress
-
-
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
-
another name for bloodstone
Etymology
Origin of heliotrope
1580–90; < Middle French héliotrope < Latin hēliotropium < Greek hēliotrópion ( helio-, -trope ); compare Middle English elitropium, elitropius, Old English eliotropus < Medieval Latin
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.
The berries were the kind that stained everything they touched: fingers, tongues, the sidewalk beneath, a heliotrope purple that felt almost illicit.
From Salon • Sep. 27, 2025
The center of clan life is a flowering heliotrope tree by the ocean.
From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2021
Once the palms are mostly gone, crews will plant native trees, especially the giant Pisonia and the tree heliotrope.
From Science Magazine • Aug. 27, 2020
The divine scent is often described as a combination of clove, honeysuckle and heliotrope.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2018
Meg’s had roses and heliotrope, myrtle, and a little orange tree in it.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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.
