moonflower
/'mu:n,flauə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A pantropical climbing plant with large, white, fragrant flowers that bloom at night: "moonflower" refers to a specific type of vine, often of the genus Ipomoea (like Ipomoea alba), known for its showy, trumpet-shaped white flowers that open in the evening and emit a strong, sweet fragrance.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The garden's trellis was covered in beautiful moonflowers.
- We sat on the porch at dusk, waiting for the moonflowers to open.
Advanced Usage
- Botanical Context: The term "moonflower" is often used in gardening and botanical discussions to describe night-blooming plants valued for their ornamental and fragrant qualities.
- Moonflowers are perfect for a moon garden, designed to be enjoyed in the evening.
Variants and Related Words
- Moon vine: A common synonym for moonflower.
- The moon vine twined around the lamppost.
- Night-blooming cereus: While a different plant, it is sometimes colloquially confused with moonflower due to its similar nocturnal blooming habit.
- Ipomoea alba: The scientific name for a common species of moonflower.
Synonyms
- Evening glory (Note: This is a broader term for plants in the same genus that may bloom during the day or evening; specific night-blooming white varieties are called moonflowers).
- Night-blooming flower.
Related Phrases
- In full bloom like a moonflower: Used poetically to describe something that is most beautiful or active at night.
- The city's nightlife was in full bloom like a moonflower.
Noun
- pantropical climber having white fragrant nocturnal flowers