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Definition of galanthus

galanthus

/ɡəˈlæn.θəs/
ga · lan · thus
Plural:galanthuses
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galanthus Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any plant of a small genus of bulbous perennial herbs native to Europe and the Middle East, characterized by solitary, drooping, bell-shaped white flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring.

Example

"The gardener carefully planted the galanthus bulbs in the autumn, anticipating their delicate white blooms peeking through the late winter snow."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for galanthus

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'galanthus' is the formal botanical genus name, these plants are almost universally referred to as 'snowdrops' in everyday gardening and conversational contexts.

• Rhymes for galanthus

• Nearby Words

galactically
galago
galangal
galanthus
galapagos
galapagos land iguana
galapagos tortoise

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus from the Greek words 'gala' (milk) and 'anthos' (flower), referring to the plant's distinctive milk-white petals.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Galanthus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/galanthus
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