bluebell

noun

blue·​bell ˈblü-ˌbel How to pronounce bluebell (audio)
1
: any of various bellflowers
especially : harebell
2
: any of various plants bearing blue bell-shaped flowers: such as
a
: a European herb (Hyacinthoides nonscripta synonym Scilla nonscripta) of the lily family having scapose racemes of drooping bell-shaped flowers

called also wild hyacinth

b
bluebells plural : a glabrous erect eastern U.S. herb (Mertensia virginica) of the borage family with entire leaves and showy blue flowers pink in the bud

called also Virginia bluebells

Examples of bluebell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Said to be beloved by the fairies, the bluebells have a number of delightful nicknames: witches’ thimbles, lady’s nightcap, harebells, fairy flowers, crow’s toes. Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Jan. 2024 The Grave of the Unknown Warrior will be framed by spring flowers including sprigs of rosemary, bay, bluebells and forget-me-nots. Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 5 May 2023 One portrait showed Princess Charlotte posing in a field of bluebells near the family's country home, Anmer Hall, while another featured the royal hugging the family's cocker spaniel, Orla. This year, Princess Charlotte's birthday week will be a busy one. Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 2 May 2023 Tornado damage in Oklahoma, wildflower blooms in California, military exercises in Ukraine, an equestrian show in Spain, a solar eclipse above Australia, a rocket explosion above Texas, a carpet of bluebells in Belgium, a robotic inspector in Paris, and much more Hints: View this page full screen. Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2023 Ecology undergraduate researcher Karen Wang drops her fine-mesh bee net, whips out a small recorder and leans in to observe Yellow 54 climbing into the bluebell’s long tubular blooms. Kristin Ohlson, Discover Magazine, 2 Jan. 2019 The meticulous floral border is meant to reflect a British wildflower meadow with lily of the valley, cornflowers, wild strawberries, dog roses and bluebells, plus a sprig of rosemary for remembrance. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2023 The invitation's symbolic features continue with a wildflower meadow border that includes cornflowers, wild strawberries, lily of the valley, bluebells, dog roses and rosemary sprig with a ladybird, a wren, a butterfly, a bee and a robin. Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2023 In April, bluebells were waving across the hillside in a thousand shades of blue, pink, lavender and white. Margo Rabb, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bluebell.' 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

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bluebell was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near bluebell

Cite this Entry

“Bluebell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluebell. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bluebell

noun
blue·​bell ˈblü-ˌbel How to pronounce bluebell (audio)
: any of various plants (as a harebell) with blue bell-shaped flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on bluebell

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