poppy

American  

[pop-ee] / ˈpɒp i /

noun

plural

poppies

1. any plant of the genus Papaver, having showy, usually red flowers.

2. any of several related or similar plants, as the California poppy or the prickly poppy.

3. an extract, as opium, from such a plant.

4. Also called poppy red.  an orangish red resembling scarlet.

5. Architecture. poppyhead.

6. an artificial flower resembling a poppy, especially one received as evidence of a contribution to a fund for disabled war veterans.

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idioms

1. tall poppy, someone of preeminence or with a large income; important and powerful person.

poppy ¹ British  

/ ˈpɒpɪ /

noun

1. any of numerous papaveraceous plants of the temperate genus Papaver, having red, orange, or white flowers and a milky sap See corn poppy Iceland poppy opium poppy

2. any of several similar or related plants, such as the California poppy, prickly poppy, horned poppy, and Welsh poppy

3. obsolete any of the drugs, such as opium, that are obtained from these plants

4. 1. a strong red to reddish-orange colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a poppy dress

5. a less common name for poppyhead

6. an artificial red poppy flower worn to mark Remembrance Sunday

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poppy ² British  

/ ˈpɒpɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to pop music

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Usage

What does poppy mean? The name poppy can refer to any plant in the poppy family, especially in the genus Papaver, which typically have red, orange, or white showy, solitary flowers. Varieties include the California poppy, the Oriental poppy, the corn poppy, the Iceland poppy, and the prickly poppy. Poppies are popular in gardens and bouquets. Poppies release a milky sap that we call latex. Poppy seeds are used in baking and cooking. The variety of poppy known as the opium poppy is used to produce opium, which contains several narcotic substances used in drugs and painkilling medicines (including morphine and codeine). After World War I, red poppies became a symbol used to remember fallen soldiers. Today, these are often artificial. The poppy is one of the August birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). Example: My grandfather always pins a poppy to his shirt on Memorial Day. Completely unrelatedly, the word poppy is also an adjective form of the noun pop, as in pop music, which is simply a shortening of popular. This sense of poppy is used to describe things considered representative of pop. Example: The band seems like they’re going for more of a poppy sound on their new album. 

Other Word Forms

• poppylike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of poppy

before 900; Middle English; Old English popæg, papig ≪ Vulgar Latin *papāvum, for Latin papāver

Explanation

A poppy is a big, bright flower that blooms at the height of summer. Many poppies have brilliant red papery petals. Poppies are beautiful flowers that play a big role in The Wizard of Oz when a field full of the flowers puts Dorothy to sleep. The scene refers to poppies as the source of opium, a powerful, sleep-inducing drug that's made from one species of poppy. Another variety gives us the poppy seeds used on bagels and in lemon muffins. In Britain, poppies are a symbol of Remembrance, the U.K. equivalent of Veteran's Day.

Example Sentences

Last year, McIlroy's daughter Poppy stole the show by knocking in a 30-foot putt as the stars cut loose before the serious stuff starts on Thursday.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Like Poppy, he says the process has been dragged out with his provider not providing any updates beyond generic emails every 28 days.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Imagine waking up early, eager to peep dazzling carpets of brilliant orange flowers at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“Rattlesnakes are in the fields!” warn park officials from the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Burton tried to get closer, too, but Poppy shoved him away.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Related Words

• drug
• heroin
• morphine
• opiate