delphinium

noun

del·phin·i·um | \del-ˈfi-nē-əm

Definition of delphinium

: 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

Pictured: Yellow roses and baby blue delphiniums in a rustic vase. — Brynn Mannino, Woman's Day, "As Seen On Good Day LA: Flower Arranging," 26 Jan. 2011 In the next few weeks, visitors can expect to see monkshood, delphiniums, mock orange and comfrey blooming. — Anchorage Daily News, "July is a great time to visit the Alaska Botanical Garden," 11 July 2018 Tables were topped with vibrant floral arrangements that featured a summer palate of purple and pink hydrangeas, blue delphiniums, white peonies, yellow Gerber daisies and more. — Candace Jordan, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago Botanic Garden's Summer Dinner Dance: Fundraising for a living museum," 26 June 2018 Jenny's Flowers, a perennial favorite from East Windsor, featured delphiniums, on May 24. — Joan Hunt, Courant Community, "Wethersfield Farmers Market In Full Swing," 12 June 2018 Things are growing fast under the midnight sun and those plants that need support to prevent damage, such as delphiniums, or to encourage climbing, as with sweet peas, should be taken care of. — Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, "Your garden chore this week? Do the neighborly thing and tidy up," 7 June 2018 Most delphiniums grow from seed and flower locally. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Great flowers that need an early start," 11 May 2018 Many remember the great delphinium of the cooler climates opening tall stalks of white, blue and purple blooms. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Great flowers that need an early start," 11 May 2018 After flowering, foxgloves, columbine and delphiniums should be pulled up. — NOLA.com, "This week's gardening tips: don't miss the camellia show," 27 Jan. 2018

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

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15 Nov 2018

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The first known use of delphinium was in 1664

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delphinium

noun

del·phin·i·um | \del-ˈfin-ē-əm

Medical Definition of delphinium

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