What does "daffodil" mean?
A bulbous plant of the genus Narcissus, with yellow flowers and a trumpet shaped corona, especially Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the national flower of Wales.
Daffodil
/ˈdæfəˌdɪl/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A bulbous plant of the genus Narcissus, with yellow flowers and a trumpet shaped corona, especially Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the national flower of Wales.
- Grammar: daffodil is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: flower, flowering bulb, jonquil, jonquils.
- Useful contrasts: nonflowering plant, weed, winter symbol.
- Usage evidence: Daffodils are a common cause of dermatitis amongst florists, with daffodil sap provoking symptoms such as redness and dry, scaly skin.
How to use "daffodil"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "daffodil" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "daffodil" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "daffodil" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "daffodil" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "daffodil" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "flower" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "daffodil", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A bulbous plant of the genus Narcissus, with yellow flowers and a trumpet shaped corona, especially Narcissus pseudonarcissus, the national flower of Wales. countable
"When daffadils begin to peere, / With heigh the Doxy ouer the dale, / Why then comes in the ſweet o’ the yeere, / For the red blood raigns in yͤ winters pale."
- 2 any of numerous varieties of Narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown wordnet
- 3 A brilliant yellow color, like that of a daffodil. countable, uncountable
"Where ships of purple gently toss / On seas of daffodil, / Fantastic sailors mingle, / And then—the wharf is still."
Adjective
- 1 Of a brilliant yellow color, like that of a daffodil.
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name from English. rare
""Pansy would be his wife," Delia guessed. "Yes, and the baby's name is Daffodil, can you believe it?" "There's a baby?" "And it wasn't even a springtime baby! It was born in October!""
Antonyms
Example
"Daffodils are a common cause of dermatitis amongst florists, with daffodil sap provoking symptoms such as redness and dry, scaly skin."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "daffodil"?
Common synonyms include: flower, flowering bulb, jonquil, jonquils, narcissi, narcissus.
How do you use "daffodil" in a sentence?
Daffodils are a common cause of dermatitis amongst florists, with daffodil sap provoking symptoms such as redness and dry, scaly skin.
How do you pronounce "daffodil"?
Pronounced /ˈdæfəˌdɪl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Variant of Middle English affodill (“ramson”), from Medieval Latin affodillus, from Latin asphodelus, from Ancient Greek ἀσφόδελος (asphódelos), of Pre-Greek origin. The initial d- is perhaps from merging of the article in Dutch de affodil, the Netherlands being a source for bulbs (compare adder, apron, newt, nickname, orange and umpire for this rebracketing process). Doublet of asphodel.
Etymology 2
From the daffodil flower, used since the end of the 19th century.