: any of a genus (Viola of the family Violaceae, the violet family) of chiefly herbs with alternate stipulate leaves and showy flowers in spring and often cleistogamous flowers in summer
especially: one with smaller usually solid-colored flowers as distinguished from the usually larger-flowered violas and pansies
b
: any of several plants of genera other than that of the violet compare dogtooth violet
2
: any of a group of colors of reddish-blue hue, low lightness, and medium saturation
Illustration of violet
violet 1a
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Some may even know that the state bird is a robin, or that the state flower is a violet.—Cailey Gleeson, Journal Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2024 The nose features elegant and fresh aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry, accompanied by subtle floral notes of rose petal and violet, spice notes of cinnamon and clove, and an earthy forest floor undertone.—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 The corn kernels and 21-pronged gear that form our state flower, the violet, represent the agricultural and industrial foundations of our state and its status as the 21st state admitted to the Union.—Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025 Crete is famous for these: the hills at dusk are all blues, violets and blacks; the sky a hundred shades of pink and orange where the sun hits the Aegean.—William Leigh, theweek, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for violet
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, from viole "the violet flower" (going back to Latin viola "any of various spring flowers, as Viola odorata," derivative of a base vi- of Mediterranean substratal origin, as also Greek íon "the color violet") + -et-et entry 1
: any of a genus of mostly herbs that often produce showy fragrant flowers in the spring and small closed self-pollinated flowers without petals in the summer
b
: any of several plants of other genera compare dogtooth violet
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