Snowdrop

/ˈsnəʊ.dɹɒp/ noun, verb, slang

noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·College level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: Any of the 20 species of the genus Galanthus of the Amaryllidaceae, bulbous flowering plants, bearing a solitary, pendulous, white, bell-shaped flower that appears, depending on species, between autumn and late winter or early spring, all native to temperate Eurasia.
  • Grammar: snowdrop is listed as noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: anemone quinquefolia, flower, galanthus nivalis, snowdrop plant.
  • Useful contrasts: nonflowering plant.
  • Usage evidence: I saw my first snowdrop of the year today!

How to use "snowdrop"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "snowdrop" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. 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 "snowdrop" 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 "snowdrop" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "snowdrop" 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 "snowdrop" is acting as noun, verb, slang 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 "anemone quinquefolia" 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 "snowdrop", 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. 1
    Any of the 20 species of the genus Galanthus of the Amaryllidaceae, bulbous flowering plants, bearing a solitary, pendulous, white, bell-shaped flower that appears, depending on species, between autumn and late winter or early spring, all native to temperate Eurasia.

    "A flower that first in this sweet garden smiled, / To virgins sacred, and the Snow-drop styled."

  2. 2
    A Royal Air Force police officer.

    "For quotations using this term, see Citations:Snowdrop."

  3. 3
    common anemone of eastern North America with solitary pink-tinged white flowers wordnet
  4. 4
    Alternative letter-case form of Snowdrop (“a Royal Air Force police officer”). alt-of
Verb
  1. 1
    To steal clothing (especially women's underwear) from a clothesline. Australia, ambitransitive, slang

    "MS: There was a lot of snowdropping in those days? / SL: Oh, I've never actually stooped to snowdropping; I used to go into shops. Boosting, man, boosting. But you learn how to survive."

Synonyms

All synonyms
anemone quinquefoliaflowergalanthus nivalissnowdrop plantwhite snowdropwood anemone

Antonyms

nonflowering plant

Example

"I saw my first snowdrop of the year today!"

Common questions

What does "snowdrop" mean?

Any of the 20 species of the genus Galanthus of the Amaryllidaceae, bulbous flowering plants, bearing a solitary, pendulous, white, bell-shaped flower that appears, depending on species, between autumn and late winter or early spring, all native to temperate Eurasia.

What is a synonym for "snowdrop"?

Common synonyms include: anemone quinquefolia, flower, galanthus nivalis, snowdrop plant, white snowdrop, wood anemone.

How do you use "snowdrop" in a sentence?

I saw my first snowdrop of the year today!

How do you pronounce "snowdrop"?

Pronounced /ˈsnəʊ.dɹɒp/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From snow + drop.

Etymology 2

From the plant snowdrop. Named for the white-topped caps sported by NCOs and warrant officers in the Royal Air Force Police.

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