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Glite Dictionary
cupid's dart

cupid's dart

9.9
A plant from southern Europe with flat blue flowers and dark centers often grown in gardens
  • noun
translation icon : dardo de Cupido
  • She planted cupid's dart in her garden for its striking blue flowers.

Examples

  • Many florists use cupid's dart in fresh arrangements because of its unique appearance.

  • The delicate blossoms of cupid's dart bloom throughout the summer.

  • I planted some cupid's dart in my garden.

  • Have you seen the cupid's dart blooming this spring?

  • Many florists use cupid's dart in their floral arrangements due to its striking blue flowers.

  • She decided to grow cupid's dart in her garden for its beautiful blooms and ornamental value.

  • The vibrant blue flowers of cupid's dart attract many pollinators during the summer.

Synonyms

Catananche caerulea
vscupid's dart
  • UK
9.9

A plant that lives for several years with blue, daisy-like flowers with dark centers

refers to the same plant but usually as an ornamental common name
Catananche
vscupid's dart
  • Specialized
9.9

A Mediterranean plant with small blue flowers often grown in gardens

is the specific ornamental plant rather than the whole genus

Surface Forms

cupid's dart singular
cupid's darts plural

Morphology

cupid's + dart

Although the constituents 'Cupid' (the mythological figure) and 'dart' (a small arrow) are individually transparent, their combination is a conventional common name for a specific plant and does not signal 'a south European perennial ornamental.' The phrase is metaphorical and world-knowledge-specific rather than compositionally descriptive, so a B1 learner knowing the parts would not reliably infer the plant meaning.

Etymology

Cupid's dart may come from the picture of Cupid, the little god of 'love', shooting a small dart. Its thin stems and pointed blue blooms looked like tiny darts, so people called the flower that and the name now suggests romance.