purple heart
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A United States military decoration: The Purple Heart is a medal awarded by the U.S. government to members of its armed forces who have been wounded or killed in action against an enemy.
- A type of barbiturate drug: (Slang, dated) "Purple heart" was a street name for a specific long-acting barbiturate tablet, used as a sedative, which was sometimes physically purple in color.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Military Decoration):
- The soldier received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during combat.
- Displaying his Purple Heart, the veteran spoke about his service.
- Noun (Drug, slang):
- (Historical/dated usage) In the mid-20th century, "purple hearts" were a subject of concern regarding drug abuse.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used metonymically to represent sacrifice, injury, or service in the U.S. military.
- His Purple Heart is a testament to his bravery and sacrifice for the country.
Variants and Related Words
- The Purple Heart: The official and most common way to refer to the medal.
- Purple Heart recipient: A person who has been awarded the medal.
Synonyms
- For the medal: (There is no direct synonym; it is a proper noun for a specific award. Related concepts include , .)
- For the drug: (Historical) , , (slang).
Idioms and Fixed Phrases
- To be awarded a Purple Heart: The standard phrase for receiving the medal.
- He was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded by shrapnel.
- To earn a Purple Heart: Emphasizes the action and sacrifice required to receive it.
- She earned her Purple Heart during a difficult deployment.
Noun
- a long-acting barbiturate used as a sedative
- a United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded in action