bellflower

noun

bell·​flow·​er ˈbel-ˌflau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce bellflower (audio)
: any of a genus (Campanula of the family Campanulaceae, the bellflower family) of widely cultivated herbs having alternate leaves and usually showy bell-shaped flowers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The powder-blue piece — a combination table, chair, and lamp with a glass shade that looks like a bellflower — feels like it’s been plucked from a dream. Diana Budds, Curbed, 4 Mar. 2022 Chris HackettGetty Images Part of the bellflower family, this long-living perennial is easy to please. Terri Robertson, Country Living, 27 June 2022 Examples are amur maple, burning bush, lily-of-the-valley, orange daylily, creeping bellflower and various barberry. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 Her design features the nodding petals of Campanula divaricata (bellflower), the white puffs of Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea), and the purple stars of Aquilegia vulgaris (columbine). Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2021 Siberian bellflower in late spring, magnolia and dogwood in summer. New York Times, 18 Nov. 2020 The herbal blend for tusu varies regionally, Wang explains, but frequently includes pepper, cinnamon, atractylodes (a sunflower relative), Chinese bellflower, rhubarb and dried ginger. Lila Thulin, Smithsonian, 20 Dec. 2019 The collection of small plates includes lightly pickled pieces of cucumber stuffed with carrot and chives, crisp chayote ignited with jalapeño and, best of all, shredded sauteed bellflower root. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2019 Milky bellflower (Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna'). Ruth Rogers Clausen, Country Living, 20 Feb. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bellflower.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bellflower was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near bellflower

Bellevue

bellflower

Bellflower

Cite this Entry

“Bellflower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bellflower. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

bellflower

noun
bell·​flow·​er ˈbel-ˌflau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce bellflower (audio)
: any of various herbs that are often grown for their showy flowers shaped like bells

Geographical Definition

Bellflower

geographical name

Bell·​flow·​er ˈbel-ˌflau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce Bellflower (audio)
city in southwestern California east of Los Angeles population 76,616

More from Merriam-Webster on bellflower

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


A Good Old-Fashioned Quiz

Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY