love-lies-bleeding

American

[luhv-lahyz-blee-ding] / ˈlʌvˌlaɪzˈbli dɪŋ /

noun

an amaranth, especially Amaranthus caudatus, having spikes of crimson flowers.

love-lies-bleeding British

noun

any of several amaranthaceous plants of the genus Amaranthus, esp A. caudatus, having drooping spikes of small red flowers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of love-lies-bleeding

First recorded in 1600–10

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 shelf where Genius stands in view Has brier and daffodil and rue And love-lies-bleeding; but not you, Sweetwilliam.

From Project Gutenberg

Feeling better he is about to depart, and has again risen erect, when a thought stays him—a remembrance—“The flower of love-lies-bleeding.”

From Project Gutenberg

Amaranthus, the typical genus, comprises A. caudātus, or love-lies-bleeding, a common plant in gardens, with pendulous racemes of crimson flowers; and A. hypochondriăcus, or prince's feather.

From Project Gutenberg

We know not whence we come, or where Our dim pathway is leading, Whether we tread on lilies fair, Or trample love-lies-bleeding.

From Project Gutenberg

I ain’t seen a proper rose nor a love-lies-bleeding, nor a dahlia.”

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023