columbine

1
[ kol-uh m-bahyn ]
/ ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn /

noun

a plant, Aquilegia caerula, of the buttercup family, having showy flowers with white petals and white to blue sepals that form long, backward spurs: the state flower of Colorado.
any of various other plants of the genus Aquilegia, characterized by divided leaves and showy flowers of various colors.

Origin of columbine

1
1275–1325; Middle English < Medieval Latin columbīna ( herba) dovelike (plant), feminine of Latin columbīnus (see columbine2); the inverted flower looks like a group of doves

Words nearby columbine

columbia heights, columbia mental maturity scale, columbia river, columbian, columbic, columbine, columbite, columbium, columbous, columbus, columbus air force base

Definition for columbine (2 of 3)

columbine 2
[ kol-uh m-bahyn, -bin ]
/ ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn, -bɪn /

adjective

of a dove.
dovelike; dove-colored.

Origin of columbine

2
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin columbīnus, equivalent to columb(a) dove + -īnus -ine1

Definition for columbine (3 of 3)

Columbine
[ kol-uh m-bahyn ]
/ ˈkɒl əmˌbaɪn /

noun

a female character in commedia dell'arte and pantomime: sweetheart of Harlequin.
a female given name.

Origin of Columbine

1720–30; < Italian Columbina literally, dovelike girl; see columbine2

Example sentences from the Web for columbine

British Dictionary definitions for columbine (1 of 3)

columbine 1
/ (ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn) /

noun

any plant of the ranunculaceous genus Aquilegia, having purple, blue, yellow, or red flowers with five spurred petals Also called: aquilegia

Word Origin for columbine

C13: from Medieval Latin columbīna herba dovelike plant, from Latin columbīnus dovelike, from the resemblance of the flower to a group of doves

British Dictionary definitions for columbine (2 of 3)

columbine 2
/ (ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn) /

adjective

of, relating to, or resembling a dove

Word Origin for columbine

C14: from Old French colombin, from Latin columbīnus dovelike, from columba dove

British Dictionary definitions for columbine (3 of 3)

Columbine
/ (ˈkɒləmˌbaɪn) /

noun

(originally) the character of a servant girl in commedia dell'arte
(later) the sweetheart of Harlequin in English pantomime