poppy
Poppy (noun) means a plant with delicate, often bright red petals, some varieties of which are the source of opium. Example: “Fields of red poppies stretched across the hillside.”
How to use poppy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA red-flowered plant (source of opium in some species), or the paper poppy worn each November to honour fallen soldiers.
The remembrance poppy is a much bigger cultural tradition in the UK and Commonwealth than in the US.
Word forms
poppier comparative, more poppy comparative, poppier comparative, more poppy comparative, poppies plural, poppies plural, poppiest superlative, most poppy superlative, poppiest superlative, most poppy superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He pinned a _____ to his jacket before the Remembrance Day service.
Etymology
From Old English popig, ultimately from Latin papaver ("poppy"). The remembrance symbol dates to World War I, popularised by American humanitarian Moina Michael after she was moved by the poem "In Flanders Fields".
Rhymes for poppy
See all rhymes for poppy →Frequently asked questions
What does “poppy” mean?
The word “poppy” means a plant with delicate, often bright red petals, some varieties of which are the source of opium. In plain terms, a red-flowered plant (source of opium in some species), or the paper poppy worn each November to honour fallen soldiers.
How do you pronounce “poppy”?
“Poppy” is pronounced PO-pee (/ˈpɑpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “poppy” in a sentence?
Here is “poppy” used in a sentence: “He pinned a poppy to his jacket before the Remembrance Day service.”
What part of speech is “poppy”?
Depending on how it is used, “poppy” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “poppy” come from?
The word “poppy” comes from Latin. From Old English popig, ultimately from Latin papaver ("poppy"). The remembrance symbol dates to World War I, popularised by American humanitarian Moina Michael after she was moved by the poem "In Flanders Fields".
Is “poppy” a common word?
“Poppy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “poppy” have?
“Poppy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plant with delicate, often bright red petals, some varieties of which are the source of opium.
What is the difference between a poppy flower and the remembrance poppy?
A poppy is first a plant with delicate, often bright red petals, some varieties of which produce opium, while the remembrance poppy is a small red paper or fabric flower worn to honor soldiers who died in war. The remembrance poppy is a symbolic object modeled on the flower, not the plant itself.
Can "poppy" describe a colour?
Yes, poppy is also used as an adjective to describe the bright orange-red colour associated with the poppy flower, similar to how other flower names double as colour terms.
Is every poppy variety used to make opium?
No, only some varieties of poppy are the source of opium; the definition covers poppies broadly as a flowering plant, of which certain species are cultivated specifically for opium production.