sego: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ObsoleteHistorical / Botanical / Regional (Western US)
Quick answer
What does “sego” mean?
A small, edible bulb from a North American plant (Calochortus), historically used as food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, edible bulb from a North American plant (Calochortus), historically used as food.
Primarily a historical/regional term for the plant itself (sego lily) or its bulb, with modern use almost exclusively in historical contexts, botany, or in the name of the state flower of Utah (Sego Lily). It can also appear in place names (e.g., Sego Canyon).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is exclusively American, tied to the flora and history of the western United States. It would be unknown in general British English except in specialized botanical contexts.
Connotations
In American English (specifically Western US), it connotes pioneer history and local ecology. In British English, it has no established connotations.
Frequency
Virtually never used in contemporary British English. In American English, frequency is limited to historical texts, botanical references, and in Utah (state flower).
Grammar
How to Use “sego” in a Sentence
The [GROUP] ate sego [to survive].The [STATE/REGION] is known for the sego lily.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sego” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Rarely used adjectivally]
American English
- They followed a sego lily trail.
- The meal had a sego bulb base.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or botanical papers discussing Western US flora or pioneer history.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary everyday language except in specific regional references (e.g., Utah).
Technical
Used as a common name for plants in the genus Calochortus, primarily C. nuttallii.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sego”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sego”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sego”
- Misspelling as 'seego' or 'seggo'.
- Pronouncing it /ˈseɡoʊ/ (hard 'g').
- Using it as a general term for any lily.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and obsolete in general use. It is primarily encountered in historical texts or botanical contexts related to the western United States.
It is almost exclusively a noun (e.g., 'a sego', 'the sego bulb'). It can be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., 'sego lily'), but this is less common.
It is pronounced /ˈsiːɡoʊ/ (SEE-goh) in American English, with a long 'e' and a hard 'g'.
Dictionaries record historical and regionally significant vocabulary. 'Sego' is important for understanding pioneer history and Western US botany, and it remains the name of a state symbol (Utah's state flower).
A small, edible bulb from a North American plant (Calochortus), historically used as food.
Sego is usually historical / botanical / regional (western us) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SEEk-GOing pioneer: they had to "see" and "go" find the "sego" lily bulbs to eat.
Conceptual Metaphor
SURVIVAL IS A BULB (e.g., 'The sego bulb was their salvation.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sego' most accurately used today?