canterbury bells: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (specialized term)Formal/technical (horticulture, gardening), Literary/poetic
Quick answer
What does “canterbury bells” mean?
A biennial flowering plant (Campanula medium) known for its tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers, typically blue, pink, or white.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A biennial flowering plant (Campanula medium) known for its tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers, typically blue, pink, or white.
Canterbury Bells are a traditional cottage garden plant, named after the bells of Canterbury Cathedral. The term is primarily botanical/horticultural. In music, "Canterbury Bells" is sometimes used as a song title or in lyrics evoking English pastoral imagery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly recognized in British English due to stronger cottage gardening traditions. In American English, it is a known but less common garden term.
Connotations
British: Evokes heritage, traditional English gardens, and the countryside. American: Often seen as an elegant, slightly old-fashioned or imported garden flower.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK gardening publications and discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “canterbury bells” in a Sentence
[to] grow Canterbury bells (in the garden)Canterbury bells [verb] (e.g., Canterbury bells flourished)a bed of Canterbury bellsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canterbury bells” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We plan to canterbury-bell the entire border next spring. (Highly informal/creative)
adjective
British English
- The Canterbury-bell display was magnificent. (Compound adjective)
American English
- She preferred a Canterbury-bell blue for the accent colour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in botanical texts or horticultural studies.
Everyday
Used by gardening enthusiasts; otherwise rare in general conversation.
Technical
Standard term in horticulture and botany for this specific species.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canterbury bells”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canterbury bells”
- Misspelling as 'Canterberry Bells' or 'Canterburry Bells'. Using a singular verb (e.g., 'The Canterbury bells is...') is incorrect; treat as plural.
- Confusing it with other campanulas like 'Harebell'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are technically biennials, meaning they complete their life cycle over two years: growing foliage in the first year and flowering in the second.
Yes, but they require deep pots due to their long taproots and may not reach their full potential size compared to being in the ground.
It refers to Canterbury in England. The flowers are said to resemble the little bells once carried on the harnesses of pilgrims' horses travelling to Canterbury Cathedral.
Yes, in some regions, the name is also applied to other Campanula species or similar bell-shaped flowers, but it correctly refers to Campanula medium.
A biennial flowering plant (Campanula medium) known for its tall spikes of bell-shaped flowers, typically blue, pink, or white.
Canterbury bells is usually formal/technical (horticulture, gardening), literary/poetic in register.
Canterbury bells: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæntəbri ˈbelz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæntərˌbɛri ˈbɛlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly; the term itself is a metaphorical reference to bells]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the famous bells of Canterbury Cathedral hanging from tall flower stems in a garden.
Conceptual Metaphor
FLOWERS ARE BELLS (The shape of the flower is mapped onto the shape and function of a bell, creating an image of natural, silent chiming).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the term 'Canterbury bells'?