foxglove: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal / botanical
Quick answer
What does “foxglove” mean?
A tall, slender plant (Digitalis purpurea) with drooping, tubular flowers, often purple or white.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall, slender plant (Digitalis purpurea) with drooping, tubular flowers, often purple or white.
Source of the cardiac drug digitalis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in core meaning; more common in UK discourse due to native habitat.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with cottage gardens, hedgerows, folklore. US: Often seen as an ornamental or medicinal plant.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “foxglove” in a Sentence
grow foxglovesplant foxglovescontain foxglovederived from foxgloveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foxglove” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The foxgloves by the old stone wall were in full splendour.
- A tincture made from foxglove must be handled with extreme care.
- She wore a dress the colour of a foxglove's bloom.
American English
- Foxgloves added a vertical accent to the perennial border.
- The medicine was originally derived from the foxglove plant.
- He cautioned the children not to touch the foxglove in the woods.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used in pharmaceutical contexts regarding digitalis production.
Academic
Common in botany, pharmacology, and history of medicine texts.
Everyday
Used by gardeners and in nature descriptions.
Technical
Specific to botanical classification and cardiac pharmacology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foxglove”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foxglove”
- Misspelling as 'foxglow' or 'foxglobe'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to foxglove').
- Confusing it with 'snapdragon' (Antirrhinum).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, all parts of the foxglove plant are highly toxic if ingested and can be fatal.
Yes, they are popular garden plants, but caution is advised if children or pets are present due to their toxicity.
Foxglove is the common name for plants in the genus Digitalis. 'Digitalis' is also the name of the drug derived from them.
The origin is uncertain. One popular theory is that it comes from 'folk's glove' (glove of the fairies or 'little folk'). The connection to foxes is likely fanciful.
A tall, slender plant (Digitalis purpurea) with drooping, tubular flowers, often purple or white.
Foxglove is usually formal / botanical in register.
Foxglove: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒksɡlʌv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːksɡlʌv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a fox wearing purple gloves made of bell-shaped flowers.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE'S MEDICINE CHEST (source of potent healing compounds)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason foxgloves are significant in a medical context?