heliotrope

he·li·o·trope  (hll--trp)

n.

1.

a. Any of several plants of the genus Heliotropium, especially H. arborescens, native to Peru and having small, highly fragrant purplish flowers. Also called turnsole.

b. The garden heliotrope.

c. Any of various plants that turn toward the sun.

2. See bloodstone.

3. A moderate, light, or brilliant violet to moderate or deep reddish purple.

---

[Middle English elitrope (from Old English eliotropus) and French héliotrope, both from Latin hliotropium, from Greek hliotropion : hlio-, helio- + tropos, turn; see trope.]

---

heli·o·trope adj.

---

heliotrope [ˈhiːlɪəˌtrəʊp ˈhɛljə-]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any boraginaceous plant of the genus Heliotropium, esp the South American H. arborescens, cultivated for its small fragrant purple flowers

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants)

garden heliotrope a widely cultivated valerian, Valeriana officinalis, with clusters of small pink, purple, or white flowers

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of various plants that turn towards the sun

4. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Colours)

a.  a bluish-violet to purple colour

b.  (as adjective) a heliotrope dress

5. (Mathematics & Measurements / Surveying) an instrument used in geodetic surveying employing the sun's rays reflected by a mirror as a signal for the sighting of stations over long distances

6. (Earth Sciences / Minerals) (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Jewellery) another name for bloodstone

[from Latin hēliotropium, from Greek hēliotropion, from hēlios sun + trepein to turn]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

heliotrope - green chalcedony with red spots that resemble blood bloodstone calcedony, chalcedony - a milky or greyish translucent to transparent quartz

Translations

heliotrope [ˈhiːlɪətrəup] N → heliotropo m

heliotrope

n (Bot: = colour) → Heliotrop nt

adj → heliotrop(isch)