marigold
marigold Lexical Profile
marigold Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A widely cultivated plant of the daisy family (genus Tagetes), native to the Americas, characterized by its vibrant yellow, orange, or copper-colored composite flowers and strongly aromatic foliage.
"We planted a row of marigolds around the perimeter of the vegetable garden to help deter pests."
A vibrant, warm yellow-orange color resembling the petals of the marigold flower.
"She painted the kitchen a warm shade of marigold to brighten up the room on cloudy days."
Word Nuance & Usage
While typically referring to plants in the genus Tagetes (such as French or African marigolds), the word is also widely used for 'pot marigolds', which belong to an entirely different genus (Calendula).
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'Marie gold' or 'marygold', coined as a tribute to the Virgin Mary combined with 'gold' to describe the bright yellow or orange hue of the flowers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.