fairy bell

Học thuật
Thân thiện
fairy bell

A fairy bell blooms in the sunlit meadow.

Definition

Noun 1. A common name for the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea): A tall, leafy European biennial or perennial plant known for its striking, tubular, pink-purple flowers arranged in clusters. Its leaves are the source of the drug digitalis and are toxic to livestock and humans.

Usage Notes
  • "Fairy bell" is a poetic or folk name for the foxglove, referencing the shape of its flowers which resemble small bells.
  • This term is primarily used in British English and in literary or descriptive contexts about plants and folklore.
  • The scientific and more common name is foxglove or Digitalis purpurea.
  • Crucial Warning: Despite its attractive, fairy-tale name, all parts of the plant are highly poisonous.
Examples
  • The hillside was dotted with the pink spires of fairy bells.
  • In the old herbal, the plant was referred to as fairy bell due to the shape of its blossoms.
  • Cautionary Example: Children should be taught not to pick fairy bells, as they are dangerous if ingested.
Advanced Usage
  • The name "fairy bell" is often connected to folklore and fairy tales. It is said that fairies wear the flowers as gloves or hats, hence the more common name "foxglove."
  • It can be used metaphorically to describe something deceptively beautiful but potentially dangerous.
    • His offer was a fairy bell—alluring on the surface but hiding a toxic core.
Variants and Related Words
  • Foxglove (n): The standard common name for the same plant ().
  • Digitalis (n):
    • The genus name for plants including the foxglove.
    • The medicinal drug derived from the leaves of these plants, used to treat heart conditions.
  • Dead men's bells (n): Another folk name for the foxglove, emphasizing its toxicity.
  • Fairy cap (n): A less common synonym, also referring to the flower's shape.
Synonyms
  • Foxglove
  • Digitalis (when referring to the plant genus)
  • Folk names: Fairy cap, dead men's bells, witch's glove
Important Note

There is no direct phrasal verb or idiom formed with "fairy bell." It functions solely as a compound noun. The primary idioms and cautions are associated with its synonym, foxglove (e.g., "as poisonous as foxglove").

fairy bell

A fairy bell blooms in the sunlit meadow.

Noun
  1. tall leafy European biennial or perennial having spectacular clusters of large tubular pink-purple flowers; leaves yield drug digitalis and are poisonous to livestock

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống