parrot tulip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal (Horticulture/Gardening), Informal (Descriptive)
Quick answer
What does “parrot tulip” mean?
A variety of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) characterized by deeply fringed or feathery petals that resemble a parrot's plumage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A variety of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) characterized by deeply fringed or feathery petals that resemble a parrot's plumage.
Refers to any cultivated tulip with frilled, curled, or laciniated petals, often displaying vibrant, multi-colored patterns reminiscent of tropical birds. Used metaphorically to describe something flamboyant, ornate, or unusually colorful.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; the term is specialist horticultural vocabulary. 'Parrot tulips' is the standard plural form in both.
Connotations
In gardening contexts, connotes expertise, cultivation, and aesthetic appreciation. In general use, can connote gaudiness or excessive ornamentation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English gardening publications due to historical tulip cultivation trends, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “parrot tulip” in a Sentence
[to] plant [a] parrot tulip[the] parrot tulip [has] fringed petals[to] resemble [a] parrot tulipVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “parrot tulip” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The garden was carefully planned to parrot-tulip the central bed with vibrant colours.
American English
- They decided to parrot-tulip the entrance with the most striking cultivars.
adverb
British English
- The petals curled parrot-tulip-like in the spring breeze.
American English
- The edges of the fabric were cut parrot-tulip, creating a frilled effect.
adjective
British English
- She created a parrot-tulip display that was the envy of the village show.
American English
- The arrangement had a parrot-tulip extravagance that dominated the room.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in horticulture trade, bulb catalogs, and garden center marketing.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and garden history texts describing tulip cultivars.
Everyday
Used by gardeners and in descriptions of striking flowers in gardens or floral arrangements.
Technical
Refers specifically to Tulipa gesneriana cultivars in the 'Parrot' group, characterized by mutation-induced fringe.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “parrot tulip”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “parrot tulip”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parrot tulip”
- Using 'parrot's tulip' (possessive form).
- Confusing with 'parrot flower' (a different plant, *Impatiens psittacina*).
- Misspelling as 'parot tulip'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are a cultivar group of the garden tulip (Tulipa gesneriana), defined by a mutation that causes the petal edges to be laciniated (cut, fringed).
They typically bloom in mid to late spring, often slightly later than some single early tulip varieties.
They are excellent for dramatic floral arrangements but can be top-heavy; their stems are sometimes less sturdy than other tulip types.
Almost exclusively from bulbs. The unique fringed characteristic does not usually come true from seed, so bulbs are divided and replanted.
A variety of tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) characterized by deeply fringed or feathery petals that resemble a parrot's plumage.
Parrot tulip is usually formal (horticulture/gardening), informal (descriptive) in register.
Parrot tulip: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpærət ˈtjuːlɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛrət ˈtuːlɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this compound term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a brightly colored PARROT wearing a TULIP as a hat—the tulip's edges are as ruffled and colorful as the parrot's feathers.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS ART / A FLOWER IS A BIRD. The tulip is conceptualized as an artist's creation mimicking the extravagant appearance of a parrot.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinguishing feature of a parrot tulip?