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lychnis

American  
[lik-nis] / ˈlɪk nɪs /

noun

  1. any showy-flowered plant belonging to the genus Lychnis, of the pink family.


lychnis British  
/ ˈlɪknɪs /

noun

  1. any caryophyllaceous plant of the genus Lychnis, having red, pink, or white five-petalled flowers See also ragged robin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lychnis

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek lychnís red flower, akin to lýchnos lamp

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The scarlet lychnis and its many varieties are nearly past, but the large-flowered, Haag's, and others of that section, are in their prime, and showy plants they are.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 299, September 24, 1881 by Various

Geranium, lychnis, rose array'd    The windows, all wide open thrown; And some one in the Study play'd    The Wedding-March of Mendelssohn.

From Angel in the House by Patmore, Coventry Kersey Dighton

The banks of the stream are covered with fine high trees, and many of the plants were in flower, especially the beautiful blue lychnis, the white oak, &c.

From Travels in the Interior of North America, Part I, (Being Chapters I-XV of the London Edition, 1843) Early Western Travels, 1748-1846, Volume XXII by Maximilian, Alexander Philipp

The grass was full of pink lychnis and yellow buttercups.

From The Waters of Edera by Ouida

First comes the orange lilium elegans, then scarlet lychnis and later, tiger lilies.

From Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916 Embracing the Transactions of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society,Volume 44, from December 1, 1915, to December 1, 1916, Including the Twelve Numbers of "The Minnesota Horticulturist" for 1916 by Latham, A. W.