periwinkle
/'peri,wiɳkl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small edible marine snail: A type of sea snail, often used as food, typically found on rocky shores.
- A trailing evergreen plant with blue or white flowers: A common garden plant, often used as ground cover, known for its glossy leaves and five-petaled flowers. Some species are poisonous.
- A pale purplish-blue color: The color resembling the typical flower of the plant.
Examples
- Noun (Marine animal):
- We collected periwinkles from the rocks at low tide.
- The dish of steamed periwinkles was a local specialty.
- Noun (Plant):
- The periwinkle spread quickly, covering the shaded bank.
- She planted blue periwinkle along the garden path.
- Noun (Color):
- She painted the room a soft periwinkle.
Advanced Usage
- "Periwinkle blue": A specific shade of light purplish-blue.
- The evening sky faded to a beautiful periwinkle blue.
Variants and Related Words
- Lesser periwinkle (): A common species of the plant.
- Greater periwinkle (): A larger-leaved species of the plant.
- Madagascar periwinkle (): A related ornamental and medicinal plant.
Synonyms
- For the snail: Winkle, sea snail.
- For the plant: Myrtle, creeping myrtle (for ).
- For the color: Lavender-blue, lilac.
Related Phrases
- "As common as periwinkle": Used to describe something very widespread or easy to find (referring to the plant).
- In that region, old stone walls are as common as periwinkle.
Notes on Different Meanings
- The meanings are distinct and belong to different domains (zoology, botany, color). Context is essential to determine which is intended.
- The plant is also known for its historical use in folk medicine and for producing alkaloids used in modern chemotherapy drugs.
Noun
- edible marine gastropod
- small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked
- commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish to red flowers
- chiefly trailing poisonous plants with blue flowers