anemone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “anemone” mean?
A small, brightly coloured flower, often with a dark centre, or a type of sea animal (sea anemone) resembling a flower.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, brightly coloured flower, often with a dark centre, or a type of sea animal (sea anemone) resembling a flower.
In botany, a perennial plant of the buttercup family, often with delicate, cup-shaped flowers. In marine biology, a sedentary polyp with a columnar body and a ring of tentacles surrounding the mouth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the flower connotes delicacy and transience. The sea anemone is a standard term in marine biology.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English in horticultural contexts due to the popularity of 'wood anemone' (Anemone nemorosa).
Grammar
How to Use “anemone” in a Sentence
The [type] anemone [verb]...An anemone of [colour/description]To see/plant/find an anemoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anemone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in niche contexts like floristry or aquarium supply.
Academic
Common in biological texts (botany, marine biology).
Everyday
Used in gardening, nature documentaries, and aquarium visits.
Technical
Precise taxonomic term in both botany and zoology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anemone”
- Mispronunciation: /ˈæn.ə.moʊn/ or /æn.ɪˈmoʊ.ni/.
- Misspelling: 'anenome', 'anemon'.
- Using the wrong determiner: 'a anemone' instead of 'an anemone'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, its pronunciation /əˈneməni/ is notoriously tricky for learners due to the sequence of unstressed syllables and the 'm-n' combination. The mnemonic 'an enemy' can help.
They are not biologically related. The sea animal is named after the flower due to its superficial resemblance to the plant's colourful, tentacle-like bloom.
No, 'anemone' is exclusively a noun in modern English. Related adjectives would be 'anemone-like' or the technical terms 'actinian' (for the animal) or 'anemonoid'.
It comes from Greek 'anemōnē', meaning 'daughter of the wind', from 'anemos' (wind). This is linked to the myth that the flowers were created by the wind, or that their petals are easily blown away.
A small, brightly coloured flower, often with a dark centre, or a type of sea animal (sea anemone) resembling a flower.
Anemone is usually formal, technical, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
An enemy (sounds like 'an enemy') stole my anemone from the sea.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLOWERS ARE DELICATE BEAUTY; SEA ANEMONES ARE FLOWERS OF THE SEA.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct statement about the word 'anemone'?