Bluebell

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbluˌbɛl/

Definitions

1. A herbaceous plant recognized for its distinctive drooping flowers shaped like bells, which are predominantly blue and often thrive in woodland environments
2. This flowering species is identified by its clusters of blue, bell-form blossoms that flourish in shady, forested areas during the spring season
3. A type of perennial plant known for its characteristic drooping blue flowers resembling bells, typically found in shaded woodlands and blooming in the spring season

Etymology: Bluebell is about as transparent as English compounds get: "blue" plus "bell", naming the flower for its nodding, bell-shaped blossoms in the characteristic shade of blue. The name describes exactly what the eye sees, with no metaphor needed. The plant itself is most familiar as the carpet of blue that covers woodland floors in spring, which is why the word's meaning has come to be tied so closely to shaded, forested places. The compound itself is simple, but the flower it names is one of the most recognisable signs of the season in Britain and Ireland.

Synonyms: harebell, campanula