# dandelion

/ˈdændəˌɫaɪən/ (US) · /dˈændɪlˌaɪən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dandelion
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the plant

noun · CEFR B1

a wild plant with a yellow flower and leaves with jagged edges.

For teachers: any of several species of the genus Taraxacum, especially Taraxacum officinale, characterized by notched leaves and yellow flower heads.

- The garden was full of dandelions that had grown between the stones.
- The common dandelion is often regarded as a stubborn weed by gardeners, yet its leaves are edible and rich in vitamins.

### 2. the seed head

noun · CEFR B2

the white, fluffy ball of seeds that forms after the yellow flower dies.

For teachers: the globose fruiting head of the plant, consisting of numerous achenes with pappi that facilitate wind dispersal.

- The children picked a dandelion and blew the seeds into the wind.
- Once the yellow petals wither, the dandelion transforms into a delicate white sphere of seeds ready for dispersal.

### 3. colour

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having a bright yellow colour like the flower of a dandelion.

For teachers: denoting a bright, saturated yellow hue characteristic of the Taraxacum flower.

- She wore a bright dandelion dress to the summer party.
- The artist used a vibrant dandelion pigment to capture the intensity of the midday sun in the meadow.

## Examples

- The children blew on the dandelion to send the seeds flying.
- While many people pull dandelions from their lawns, others leave them to grow because the seeds provide food for birds.
- The dandelion is a resilient plant that thrives in disturbed soils, often appearing as a pioneer species in areas where the grass has been removed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.