Illustration of delphinium
delphinium
noun
del·phin·i·um
del-ˈfi-nē-əm 
: any of a large genus (Delphinium) of the buttercup family that comprises chiefly perennial erect branching herbs with palmately divided leaves and irregular flowers in showy spikes and includes several that are poisonous compare larkspur
Examples of delphinium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The dinner's backdrop will be a canvas of American monarch butterflies and Australian Cairns Birdwing butterflies against roses and delphinium for the U.S. and eucalyptus for Australia.
—
Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2023
How is yours? Support the tall ones: Sunflowers, delphiniums — any tall flowering plant that can collect rain should have some support.
—Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Aug. 2023
The best flowers for pressing are ones that lie flat: violets, daises, poppies, pansies, cosmos, delphiniums, geraniums, forget-me-nots, and greenery.
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Designers also incorporated hybrid delphiniums, French tulips and garden roses plus dark and glossy gardenia foliage.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 25 May 2023
This bunch includes an array of colorful flowers including red carnations, yellow daisies, green button chrysanthemums, blue delphinium and purple stock.
—Beth Dreher, goodhousekeeping.com, 29 Apr. 2023
Roses and foxgloves rotate over the course of the summer with pansies and delphiniums in a cottage-style planting.
—Stephen Orr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2023
Make your mom's day with bohemian bunch that includes roses, delphinium, thistle, snapdragons and more.
—Town & Country, 15 Feb. 2023
Pansies and other annuals go wild for many months in Southern California’s mild climate, followed by cottage garden flowers like foxgloves, delphiniums, and poppies.
—Stephen Orr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2023
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Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2023
How is yours? Support the tall ones: Sunflowers, delphiniums — any tall flowering plant that can collect rain should have some support.
—Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Aug. 2023
The best flowers for pressing are ones that lie flat: violets, daises, poppies, pansies, cosmos, delphiniums, geraniums, forget-me-nots, and greenery.
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
Designers also incorporated hybrid delphiniums, French tulips and garden roses plus dark and glossy gardenia foliage.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 25 May 2023
This bunch includes an array of colorful flowers including red carnations, yellow daisies, green button chrysanthemums, blue delphinium and purple stock.
—Beth Dreher, goodhousekeeping.com, 29 Apr. 2023
Roses and foxgloves rotate over the course of the summer with pansies and delphiniums in a cottage-style planting.
—Stephen Orr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2023
Make your mom's day with bohemian bunch that includes roses, delphinium, thistle, snapdragons and more.
—Town & Country, 15 Feb. 2023
Pansies and other annuals go wild for many months in Southern California’s mild climate, followed by cottage garden flowers like foxgloves, delphiniums, and poppies.
—Stephen Orr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delphinium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus name, from Greek delphinion larkspur, diminutive of delphin-, delphis dolphin; probably from the shape of the nectary
First Known Use
1664, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to delphinium
Dictionary Entries Near delphinium
Cite this Entry
“Delphinium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delphinium. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
delphinium
noun
del·phin·i·um
del-ˈfin-ē-əm
: any of a large genus of herbs related to the buttercups and widely grown for their flowers in showy spikes
Medical Definition
delphinium
noun
del·phin·i·um
del-ˈfin-ē-əm
1
capitalized
: a large genus of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) that comprises chiefly perennial herbs with divided leaves and flowers in showy spikes and includes several especially of the western United States that are toxic to grazing animals and especially cattle see larkspur, stavesacre
2
: any plant of the genus Delphinium
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