English Explanatory Dictionary

periwinkle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several evergreen plants of the genus Vinca with blue or white flowers.
  2. Similar plants of genus Catharanthus.
  3. A color with bluish and purplish hues, somewhat light.
adj
  1. Of pale bluish purple colour.
noun
  1. A mollusk of family Littorinidae.
  2. A caddisfly larva.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɛɹ.ɪˌwɪŋ.kəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-periwinkle.wav

Word forms

periwinkle periwinkles more periwinkle most periwinkle

Etymology

Diminutive of Middle English perwinke, from Old English perfince, perwince (compare Middle High German berwinke), from Latin pervinca (compare French pervenche, Italian pervinca).

Synonyms

myrtle vinca creeping myrtle winkle

Related words

vinblastine vincristine

Derived words

bigleaf periwinkle blue periwinkle common periwinkle greater periwinkle herbaceous periwinkle large periwinkle Madagascar periwinkle periwinkled periwinkler periwinkling rose periwinkle rosy periwinkle checkered periwinkle flat periwinkle giant periwinkle rough periwinkle

Translations

French: pervenche Hungarian: babakék Italian: pervinca
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