goldcup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareSpecialist/Gardening
Quick answer
What does “goldcup” mean?
A flowering plant of the genus Hylotelephium, especially Hylotelephium spectabile, also known as showy stonecrop or ice plant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A flowering plant of the genus Hylotelephium, especially Hylotelephium spectabile, also known as showy stonecrop or ice plant.
A common name for a hardy, succulent perennial garden plant with clusters of small, star-shaped pink flowers, often used in rock gardens and borders.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely to be encountered in British gardening literature and seed catalogues. American gardeners might be more familiar with names like 'showy stonecrop' or 'ice plant'.
Connotations
Horticultural, slightly old-fashioned charm.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties, but marginally higher in UK.
Grammar
How to Use “goldcup” in a Sentence
The goldcup [flourished in the sunny border].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in botanical texts and horticultural studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
A specific common name for a genus/species of succulent plant.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “goldcup”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'He won a goldcup') instead of a proper plant name.
- Misspelling as two words: 'gold cup'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, specialist term used mainly in gardening.
No, that would be incorrect. A golden trophy is a 'gold cup'. 'Goldcup' as one word refers specifically to a plant.
The most common species referred to as goldcup is Hylotelephium spectabile (formerly Sedum spectabile).
In well-drained soil in full sun, as it is a drought-tolerant succulent.
A flowering plant of the genus Hylotelephium, especially Hylotelephium spectabile, also known as showy stonecrop or ice plant.
Goldcup is usually specialist/gardening in register.
Goldcup: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊldkʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊldkʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a golden cup overflowing with tiny pink flowers instead of liquid.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE AS DECORATION (the plant is a decorative 'cup' of 'gold').
Practice
Quiz
What is 'goldcup' primarily?