violet
/ˈvʌɪələt
/noun
1A herbaceous plant of temperate regions, typically having purple, blue, or white five-petalled flowers, one petal of which forms a landing pad for pollinating insects.
- Genus Viola, family Violaceae (the violet family): many species, including the dog violet and sweet violet. See also viola2.
- Purple hyacinths and blue violets arranged together, the colors working together nicely.
- There were pools that dreamed black and unruffled, there were a few white lilies, crocuses and violets; purple or pale, snake-like frittilaries.
1.1Used in names of similar-flowered plants of other families, e.g. African violet.Bird's-Foot (V. pedata) violets are similar to Confederate violets in that they have no runners....
- Erythronium dens-canis is the true dog's tooth violet, the name comes from the shape of the corm, and has rose coloured flowers on 10 cm stems and purple marked leaves.
- You may put your African violet on a self-watering system to ensure a constant, optimum level of moisture.
2 [mass noun] A bluish-purple colour seen at the end of the spectrum opposite red: a beautiful blue with a tinge of violet...
- He was splendidly dressed in the royal scarlet and bluish violet.
- Except for one large canvas dependent on scrabbled zones of shockingly clear violet, most of the paintings are a little murky.
- Now, it was not a bluish sort of violet, but pure, clear purple.
adjective
Of a bluish-purple colour: her almost violet eyes were a bit startling...
- Some of the calcifuges also tended to have a slightly violet colour, which could be a sign of P deficiency.
- Along with her brother, the young girl begins to go to high school in a violet colour skirt and half-sari uniform.
- Detectives remain convinced that the theft of the pensioner's distinctive violet car was inextricably linked to his death.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French violette, diminutive of viole, from Latin viola 'violet'.