noun
periwinkle
PEHR-ih-wihng-kuhl
Periwinkle (noun) means a small trailing evergreen plant with blue, white, or purple flowers. Example: “Periwinkle grows well as ground cover in shady spots.”
noun
1
A small trailing evergreen plant with blue, white, or purple flowers.
"Periwinkle grows well as ground cover in shady spots."
2
A small spiral-shelled sea snail found on rocky shores.
"They collected periwinkles from the rock pools at low tide."
3
A pale, slightly purplish-blue color.
"The bedroom walls were painted a soft periwinkle."
How to use periwinkle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a small blue-flowered plant, a tiny sea snail, or the pale blue-purple color named after the flower.
Common pairings
periwinkle blue
periwinkle shell
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Word forms
- Plural
- periwinkles
- Comparative
- more periwinkle
- Superlative
- most periwinkle
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ grows well as ground cover in shady spots.
Etymology
From Old English perwince, ultimately from Latin pervinca, the name of the flowering plant.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for periwinkle
See all rhymes for periwinkle →Frequently asked questions
What does “periwinkle” mean?
The word “periwinkle” means a small trailing evergreen plant with blue, white, or purple flowers. In plain terms, either a small blue-flowered plant, a tiny sea snail, or the pale blue-purple color named after the flower.
How do you pronounce “periwinkle”?
“Periwinkle” is pronounced PEHR-ih-wihng-kuhl (/ˈpɛɹ.ɪˌwɪŋ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “periwinkle” in a sentence?
Here is “periwinkle” used in a sentence: “Periwinkle grows well as ground cover in shady spots.”
What part of speech is “periwinkle”?
“Periwinkle” is a noun.
Where does the word “periwinkle” come from?
The word “periwinkle” comes from Latin. From Old English perwince, ultimately from Latin pervinca, the name of the flowering plant.
How many meanings does “periwinkle” have?
“Periwinkle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small trailing evergreen plant with blue, white, or purple flowers.
