snowdrop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal; common in botanical, literary, and descriptive contexts.
Quick answer
What does “snowdrop” mean?
A small, bulbous perennial plant (genus Galanthus) that produces white, drooping flowers in late winter or early spring.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, bulbous perennial plant (genus Galanthus) that produces white, drooping flowers in late winter or early spring.
The white flower of this plant; by extension, anything that appears as a delicate, early sign of hope or the end of winter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Associated with the end of winter and early spring. In British culture, it has stronger cultural resonance as a familiar garden plant and symbol of hope.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to its prominence in gardening culture and as a common wildflower.
Grammar
How to Use “snowdrop” in a Sentence
The [location] was dotted with snowdrops.Snowdrops [verb: appear, bloom, emerge] in February.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except potentially in branding (e.g., 'Snowdrop Trust' as a charity name).
Academic
Used in botanical texts, ecology, and horticulture.
Everyday
Common in conversation about gardens, weather, and the changing seasons.
Technical
Specific to botany and horticulture; refers to the genus Galanthus.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “snowdrop”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “snowdrop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “snowdrop”
- Using 'snowdrop' to refer to a snowflake or a drop of snow.
- Capitalising it as a proper noun (unless part of a specific name like 'Snowdrop Festival').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the common English name for plants in the genus Galanthus.
No. 'Snowdrop' refers exclusively to the flower. A snowflake is a crystal of snow.
In temperate climates, they typically flower in late winter to early spring, often from January to March.
They are native to Europe and the Middle East. They are widely naturalised in the UK and are also grown in gardens in the US, but are not native there.
A small, bulbous perennial plant (genus Galanthus) that produces white, drooping flowers in late winter or early spring.
Snowdrop is usually neutral to formal; common in botanical, literary, and descriptive contexts. in register.
Snowdrop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsnəʊdrɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsnoʊdrɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a single drop of snow hanging from a stem, but it's actually a white flower. Snow + drop = snowdrop.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE FIRST SIGN OF HOPE IS A SNOWDROP (e.g., 'The snowdrops were a welcome promise of spring.').
Practice
Quiz
What does the appearance of snowdrops traditionally signify?