daffodil

noun daf·fo·dil \ ˈda-fə-ˌdil \

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Definition of daffodil

: any of various perennial bulbous herbs (genus Narcissus) of the amaryllis family; especially : one whose flowers have a large corona elongated into a trumpet — compare jonquil, narcissus

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Recent Examples of daffodil from the Web

Often empty benches near daffodil beds and shallow pools seem to await visitors.

— New York Times, "New Parks Sprout Around New York," 8 June 2018
The daffodils tradition comes from Marek Edelman, the last surviving commander of the uprising, who on every anniversary used to lay the spring flowers at the monument to the fighters.

— Washington Post, "Poland marks 75th anniversary of uprising in Warsaw Ghetto," 19 Apr. 2018
Buy Photo Around this time each year, the daffodils push their heads through the topsoil, and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Daffy Ducks push their hate at college campuses.

— stu bykofsky, Philly.com, "Philadelphia Orchestra complicit in crimes against Palestinians, says BDS. I say, BS | Stu Bykofsky," 3 May 2018
New restaurants are popping up like a bunch of blooming daffodils this spring in Indianapolis.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "The hottest new restaurants in Indianapolis this spring," 19 Apr. 2018
Over the past year Meaningful Beauty has overhauled its packaging and introduced four new products, including a serum made with melon leaf stem cells and sea daffodil extract.

— brooks barnes, Town & Country, "How Cindy Crawford Became the Ultimate Model Matriarch," 4 Apr. 2018
Despite the massacre by inclement weather, Burnside Farms opened to visitors this week, and the photos show that plenty of beautiful tulips remain — about four acres of them — along with daffodils and Dutch iris.

— angela fritz, Washington Post, "D.C.-area tulip farms are in full bloom, just in time for the first hot week of the year," 1 May 2018
The daffodil tradition comes from Marek Edelman, the last surviving commander of the uprising, who on every anniversary used to lay the spring flowers at the monument to the fighters.

— monika scislowska, BostonGlobe.com, "Poland marks 75th anniversary of uprising in Warsaw Ghetto," 19 Apr. 2018
But the magnolia is in full glory; half the rhododendrons are going nuts with color; the daffodils (three kinds) have been blooming for weeks; the leptospermum and the hellebores and the hyacinths are exploding in their stately fashion.

— jon carroll, San Francisco Chronicle, "Thoughts while plucking mummies, 1992," 28 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of daffodil

perhaps from Dutch de affodil the asphodel

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First Known Use: 1548

in the meaning defined above

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DAFFODIL Defined for English Language Learners

daffodil

noun

Definition of daffodil for English Language Learners

: a yellow flower that blooms in the spring and that has a center that is shaped like a long tube

DAFFODIL Defined for Kids

daffodil

noun daf·fo·dil \ ˈda-fə-ˌdil \

Definition of daffodil for Students

: a plant that grows from a bulb and has long slender leaves and usually yellow or white flowers with petals whose inner parts are arranged to form a trumpet-shaped tube