saxifrage

American

[sak-suh-frij] / ˈsæk sə frɪdʒ /

noun

any plant of the genus Saxifraga, certain species of which grow wild in the clefts of rocks, other species of which are cultivated for their flowers.

saxifrage British

/ ˈsæksɪˌfreɪdʒ /

noun

any saxifragaceous plant of the genus Saxifraga, characterized by smallish white, yellow, purple, or pink 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 saxifrage

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin saxifraga ( herba ) stone-breaking (herb), equivalent to saxi-, combining form of saxum stone + -fraga, feminine of -fragus breaking; fragile

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.

Springy moss, purple and yellow saxifrage, and a type of buttercup stay within centimetres of the ground.

From The Guardian

Glints of colour, purple saxifrage, sphagnum moss, the reddening leaves of the bilberry.

From BBC

There is a long chapter on the study of heredity in British plants discussing celandines, poppies, watercress, violets, pansies, campions, clovers, vetch, trefoil, raspberry, blackberry, saxifrage.

From BBC

Desiccated husks of spring wildflowers — saxifrage, penstemon and daisy — crunched underfoot.

From New York Times

I photographed at least 15 species of flowering plant which include some very attractive saxifrages and wintergreens.

From BBC

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