primrose

primrose
/prim"rohz'/, n.
1. any plant of the genus Primula, as P. vulgaris (English primrose), of Europe, having yellow flowers, or P. sinensis (Chinese primrose), of China, having flowers in a variety of colors. Cf. primrose family.
3. pale yellow.
adj.
4. of or pertaining to the primrose.
5. Also, primrosed. abounding in primroses: a primrose garden.
6. of a pale yellow.
[1375-1425; late ME primerose < ML prima rosa first rose]

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I
Any flowering plant of the genus Primula, one of 28 genera of the family Primulaceae.

Primula includes more than 500 species, which occur chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere in cool or mountainous regions. The plants are low-growing, usually perennial herbs; a few are biennials. Most species grow 25–50 cm (10–20 inches) tall, but some are as short as 5 cm and others as tall as 120 cm. Many species are cultivated for their attractive, five-petaled flowers, which may be red, pink, purple, blue, white, or yellow. Other plants in the primrose family include cyclamens and pimpernels. The evening primrose (family Onagraceae) is not a true primrose.
II
(as used in expressions)
Rosebery Archibald Philip Primrose 5th earl of
Archibald Philip Primrose

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plant
      flowering plants of the genus Primula (including Cortusa, Dionysia, and Dodatheon), of the family Primulaceae, with 490–600 species, chiefly occurring in the Northern Hemisphere in cool or mountainous regions. The plants are low-growing, usually perennial herbs; a few are biennials. Most species grow 25 to 50 cm (10 to 20 inches) tall, but some are as short as 5 cm (2 inches) and others as tall as 1.2 metres (4 feet). Many species are cultivated for their attractive flowers.

      The stalked leaves may be long and narrow or roundish and are crowded together. On the lower side the midrib is often prominent. The stalked flowers may be solitary, as in the common primrose (P. vulgaris), or more usually borne in loose umbels. The flowers have a tube with five spreading corolla and may be red, pink, purple, blue, white, or yellow.

      The fairy primrose (P. malacoides) and the Chinese primrose (P. sinensis) are generally grown in greenhouses. The polyanthus hybrids, probably including P. elatior and P. vulgaris in their parentage, are popular garden plants. P. auricula, also perhaps hybridized, gave rise to innumerable varieties that were especially popular in the 17th century and later. Many other species and hybrids are grown in cool greenhouses, rock gardens, or borders.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • PRIMROSE (W.) — PRIMROSE William 1903 1982 L’alto est l’un de ces instruments obscurs qui ne suscite aucun vedettariat parmi ses interprètes mais dont le rôle demeure essentiel dans toutes les formations de musique de chambre ou symphoniques. Rares sont les… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Primrose — Primrose, AK U.S. Census Designated Place in Alaska Population (2000): 93 Housing Units (2000): 47 Land area (2000): 37.394822 sq. miles (96.852140 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.971281 sq. miles (2.515607 sq. km) Total area (2000): 38.366103 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • primrose — [prim′rōz΄] n. [ME primerose < MFr, altered (infl. by rose, ROSE1) < OFr primerole, primrose < ML primula, flower, daisy, primrose < L primus, first: see PRIME] 1. any of a genus (Primula) of plants of the primrose family, having… …   English World dictionary

  • Primrose — Prim rose , a. Of or pertaining to the primrose; of the color of a primrose; hence, flowery; gay. The primrose path of dalliance. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Primrose — Prim rose , n. [OE. primerole, F. primerole, a derivative fr. LL. primula, from L. primus first. See {Prime}, a.] (Bot.) (a) An early flowering plant of the genus {Primula} ({Primula vulgaris}) closely allied to the cowslip. There are several… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Primrose —   [ prɪmrəʊz], Sir (seit 1953) William, britischer Bratschist, * Glasgow 23. 8. 1903, ✝ Provo (Utah) 1. 5. 1982; gehörte 1937 42 als 1. Bratschist dem NBC Sinfonieorchester New York an. 1939 gründete er das W. Primrose Quartet. Auf seine Anregung …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Primrose, AK — U.S. Census Designated Place in Alaska Population (2000): 93 Housing Units (2000): 47 Land area (2000): 37.394822 sq. miles (96.852140 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.971281 sq. miles (2.515607 sq. km) Total area (2000): 38.366103 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Primrose, NE — U.S. village in Nebraska Population (2000): 69 Housing Units (2000): 36 Land area (2000): 0.278198 sq. miles (0.720529 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.278198 sq. miles (0.720529 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • primrose — early 15c., primerose, from O.Fr. primerose (12c.), from M.L. prima rosa, lit. first rose, so called because it blooms early in spring. Parallel name primula (c.1100) is from O.Fr. primerole, from M.L. primula primrose, shortened from primula… …   Etymology dictionary

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