Definition

1. 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

1. edible marine gastropod
2. small edible marine snail; steamed in wine or baked
3. commonly cultivated Old World woody herb having large pinkish to red flowers
4. chiefly trailing poisonous plants with blue flowers