morning glory family: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal to neutral, common in gardening contexts; sometimes poetic/literary in metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “morning glory family” mean?
A climbing plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the morning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A climbing plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the morning.
Often used to refer to the plant's short-lived, ephemeral beauty; occasionally used metaphorically for something that is beautiful but fleeting or temporary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or reference. Both use the term identically for the plant.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can carry a slightly nostalgic or poetic connotation due to the flower's brief daily bloom.
Frequency
Equally common in gardening contexts in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “morning glory family” in a Sentence
The [adjective] morning glory [verb] over the [noun].[Noun] was covered in a tangle of morning glory.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The product's success was a morning glory – huge initial sales then a sharp drop.'
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and plant biology papers.
Everyday
Common in gardening talk: 'I'm going to plant some morning glories by the trellis.'
Technical
Genus name Ipomoea is preferred in technical botanical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “morning glory family”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “morning glory family”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “morning glory family”
- Using 'morning glory' as an adjective (e.g., 'morning glory plant' is fine, but 'the view was morning glory' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with other climbing plants like clematis or honeysuckle.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its metaphorical use derives directly from the plant's characteristic of blooming beautifully but fleetingly.
Yes, the plural is standard when referring to multiple plants or flowers.
It is a standard common name for the plant. In technical writing, the Latin genus name 'Ipomoea' is more formal.
They are in the same family (Convolvulaceae). 'Bindweed' often refers to weedy species (like field bindweed), while 'morning glory' typically refers to cultivated ornamental species, though the lines can blur.
A climbing plant with trumpet-shaped flowers that typically open in the morning.
Morning glory family: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɔː.nɪŋ ˈɡlɔː.ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɔːr.nɪŋ ˈɡlɔːr.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A morning glory (metaphorical) - someone or something that starts brilliantly but fades quickly.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The glory of the morning sun is mirrored in the flower that opens to greet it.
Conceptual Metaphor
EPHEMERAL BEAUTY IS A MORNING GLORY; BRIEF SUCCESS IS A MORNING GLORY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a 'morning glory' in metaphorical use?