buttercup

noun

but·​ter·​cup ˈbə-tər-ˌkəp 

plural buttercups

: any of a large genus (Ranunculus of the family Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family) of chiefly perennial herbaceous plants having colorful cup-shaped flowers with 5 or sometimes many petals : ranunculus

especially : a plant (such as R. acris and R. repens) with usually bright yellow, five-petaled flowers

The flowers …, 1 1/2-in.-wide golden buttercups set atop a green topknot of fringy leaves, are very bright and cheery in the chill of March.

—Aileen Detter Rodgers

compare crowfoot, spearwort

Examples of buttercup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Spring colors include light green and pink, buttercup yellow, lavender, and bright blue. —Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2024

Espresso or chocolate brown can also be viewed as a blank canvas for the perfect pastel color, like sky blue or buttercup yellow, as seen at Fendi. —Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 14 June 2024

In spring, wildflowers, like phlox, buttercups, and trillium, come into full bloom and line the hiking trails. —Erin Gifford, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 May 2023

Giant hornets, Burmese pythons and, perhaps less obviously, fig buttercups all pose threats to North American ecosystems. —Bob Hirshon, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

buttercup

noun

but·​ter·​cup ˈbət-ər-ˌkəp 

: any of a genus of herbs having cuplike yellow flowers