snowdrop

noun

snow·​drop ˈsnō-ˌdräp How to pronounce snowdrop (audio)
: a bulbous European herb (Galanthus nivalis) of the amaryllis family bearing nodding white flowers that often appear while the snow is on the ground

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web These white flowers are sometimes referred to as snowdrops due to their color and shape. Ashley Martens, Redbook, 16 May 2023 Our snowdrops, hellebores and winter aconites, even in their full bloom condition, can easily handle temperatures well below freezing. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 17 Feb. 2023 The snowdrops, hellebores and winter aconites? Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 17 Feb. 2023 Wildflowers, like delicate white snowdrops and brilliant yellow aconite, are beginning to flower several months early. Dharna Noor, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Feb. 2023 In Chicagoland, the response to warm weather has included February snowdrop displays and the current buds on daffodils. Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2023 January has two birth flowers—the carnation and the snowdrop. Irene Richardson, Country Living, 1 Jan. 2023 If snowdrop was Homer’s moly, over the ages it was almost forgotten. Matt Kaplan, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2015 The giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii, blooms in February. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snowdrop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snowdrop was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near snowdrop

Cite this Entry

“Snowdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snowdrop. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

snowdrop

noun
snow·​drop -ˌdräp How to pronounce snowdrop (audio)
: a European plant that is related to the amaryllises and produces nodding white flowers that often appear while snow is still on the ground

More from Merriam-Webster on snowdrop

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