Word
heather
US/ˈhɛðɝ/
UK/hˈɛðɐ/
Definitions
01the plant
n. a low wild plant with small purple, pink, or white flowers that grows on hills and open land.
n. a low-growing evergreen shrub, specifically Calluna vulgaris, characterized by small scale-like leaves and clusters of tiny flowers, typically found on acidic moorland.
“The hills were covered in purple heather as far as the eye could see.”
“The vast expanses of the Scottish Highlands are famous for their dense carpets of wild heather, which bloom vibrantly in late summer.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the plant in general; countable when referring to specific varieties.
Teaching tip
Often associated with Scotland and northern landscapes in literature and travel writing.
Synonyms
02mixed color in fabric
n. a mix of different colored threads in a fabric that creates a speckled or soft look.
n. a multi-colored effect in yarn or fabric produced by blending fibers of different colors before spinning.
“He wore a soft heather sweater that matched his grey trousers.”
“The designer chose a heather wool for the winter collection to provide a more textured and organic appearance than solid-dyed fabrics.”
Technical
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun like 'grey' or 'purple'.
Teaching tip
In the fashion industry, this refers to the texture of the color rather than just the purple hue of the plant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03purple-pink color
adj. having a light purple color with a hint of pink or blue.
adj. denoting a pale purple color with pinkish or bluish undertones, resembling the flowers of the heather plant.
“She chose a heather purple paint for the bedroom walls.”
“The evening sky turned a soft heather shade just before the sun disappeared behind the mountains.”
Literary
Usage
Usually non-gradable when used as a specific color term.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“They also studied 10 sites that hosted commercial apiaries, with an average of 34 hives each, during the heather bloom.” “The mountain also saw a "big upsurge" in heather beetles this year - possibly linked to milder winters.” Etymology
From heather; the given name is one of the plant names taken up in the 19th century. The surname is habitational, also meaning someone living on a heath.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/heather