buttercup

[ buht-er-kuhp ]

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Ranunculus, having glossy yellow flowers and deeply cut leaves.

buttercup

/ ˈbʌtəˌkʌp /

noun

1. any of various yellow-flowered ranunculaceous plants of the genus Ranunculus , such as R. acris (meadow buttercup), which is native to Europe but common throughout North America See also crowfoot goldilocks spearwort lesser celandine

Word History and Origins

Origin of buttercup¹

1505–15; butter + cup, from color and shape of flower

Example Sentences

In spring, find western bluebirds, great horned owls and tree frogs, chipmunks, buttercups, warblers and three species of hummingbirds.

From Seattle Times

At Los Padres National Forest along the Central California coast, swaths of California poppies, California buttercups, purple shooting stars and goldfields fill the slopes.

From Los Angeles Times

To picture Baldwin as caring enough about Capote’s sadness over losing access to his exclusionary patrons to drop what he’s doing and devote a “buck up, buttercup” day on the town with Capote beggars belief.

From Salon

Dot, who’s called a “tiger” by a formidable foe, is a tiny woman with a cheerful smile and a reassuring voice who favors buttercup yellow and thrift store fashion.

From Salon

Before long it bloomed with poppies, buttercups and Queen Anne's lace.

From Scientific American

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