heliotrope Hear it!

heliotrope definition

he·lio·trope (lē ə trōp′; also, chiefly Brit, helē ə-)

noun

  1. Obsolete a sunflower or other plant whose flowers turn to face the sun
  2. any of a genus (Heliotropium) of plants of the borage family, with fragrant clusters of small, white or reddish-purple flowers
  3. garden heliotrope
  4. reddish purple
  5. a kind of heliograph (sense ) used in surveying
  6. bloodstone

Etymology: Fr héliotrope < L heliotropium < Gr hēliotropion < hēlios, the sun (see Helios) + base of trepein, to turn (see trope)

adjective

reddish-purple

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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