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noun

primrose

PRIHM-rohz

Primrose (noun) means a small flowering plant, especially the pale yellow wildflower common in early spring. Example: “Primroses were already blooming along the hedgerow in March.”

noun
1
A small flowering plant, especially the pale yellow wildflower common in early spring.
"Primroses were already blooming along the hedgerow in March."
2
A pale, light yellow colour.
"The nursery walls were painted a soft primrose."

How to use primrose

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pale yellow spring flower, or the soft yellow colour named after it.

Common pairings
primrose yellow evening primrose a bank of primroses

Word forms

more primrose comparative, primrosed past tense, primroses plural, primroses singular, most primrose superlative

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Test yourself on “primrose” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ were already blooming along the hedgerow in March.

Etymology

From Old French primerose, from Medieval Latin prima ("first") and rosa ("rose") — likely named because it flowers so early in spring.

Origin: Medieval Latin

primula cowslip oxlip primerole

Related words

Rhymes for primrose

See all rhymes for primrose →

Frequently asked questions

What does “primrose” mean?

The word “primrose” means a small flowering plant, especially the pale yellow wildflower common in early spring. In plain terms, a pale yellow spring flower, or the soft yellow colour named after it.

How do you pronounce “primrose”?

“Primrose” is pronounced PRIHM-rohz (/ˈpɹɪm.ɹoʊz/ in IPA).

How do you use “primrose” in a sentence?

Here is “primrose” used in a sentence: “Primroses were already blooming along the hedgerow in March.”

What is another word for “primrose”?

Words with a similar meaning to “primrose” include primula, cowslip, oxlip and primerole.

What part of speech is “primrose”?

“Primrose” is a noun.

Where does the word “primrose” come from?

The word “primrose” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French primerose, from Medieval Latin prima ("first") and rosa ("rose") — likely named because it flowers so early in spring.

How many meanings does “primrose” have?

“Primrose” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small flowering plant, especially the pale yellow wildflower common in early spring.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial