snapdragon

[ snap-drag-uhn ]

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Antirrhinum, of the figwort family, especially A. majus, cultivated for its spikes of showy flowers, each having a corolla supposed to resemble the mouth of a dragon.
2. flapdragon.

snapdragon

/ ˈsnæpˌdræɡən /

noun

1. any of several scrophulariaceous chiefly Old World plants of the genus Antirrhinum, esp A. majus, of the Mediterranean region, having spikes of showy white, yellow, pink, red, or purplish flowers Also calledantirrhinum

Word History and Origins

Origin of snapdragon¹

First recorded in 1565–75; snap + dragon

Word History and Origins

Origin of snapdragon¹

C16: so named because the flowers, which are claimed to look like a dragon's head, have a ``mouth'' which snaps shut if squeezed open and then released

Example Sentences

The stunning orange flowers of Doubleshot snapdragons will have you looking for spaces in the garden and containers to include this winner.

From Seattle Times

Flowers available in fall include ranunculus, anemones, snapdragons, and a host of dried florals and botanicals.

From Seattle Times

She added two genes from a plant called a “snapdragon”.

From NewsForKids.net

Right now, the cool season flowers — snapdragons, strawflowers, sweet peas and poppies — are transitioning to ranunculus and anemones and summer annuals like dahlias, zinnias and cosmos.

From Los Angeles Times

The author is a big fan of planting flowers among your vegetables, like carpeting edges of growing beds with flowering alyssum and interplanting cosmos, snapdragons and zinnias to promote biodiversity and support pollinators.

From Seattle Times