bleeding heart


noun

any of various plants belonging to the genus Dicentra, of the fumitory family, especially D. spectabilis, a common garden plant having long, one-sided clusters of rose or red heart-shaped flowers.
a person who makes an ostentatious or excessive display of pity or concern for others.

Origin of bleeding heart

First recorded in 1685–95

OTHER WORDS FROM bleeding heart

bleed·ing-heart, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for bleeding heart

British Dictionary definitions for bleeding heart

bleeding heart

noun

any of several plants of the genus Dicentra, esp the widely cultivated Japanese species D. spectabilis, which has finely divided leaves and heart-shaped nodding pink flowers: family Fumariaceae
informal
  1. a person who is excessively softhearted
  2. (as modifier)a bleeding-heart liberal