Word
snapdragon
Phoneticssnap·drag·on, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsnæpˌdɹæɡən/
UK/snˈæpdɹæɡən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a type of flower that looks like a dragon's mouth. It is known for its bright colors and the way its petals open and close when you squeeze them.
n. a flowering plant of the genus Antirrhinum, characterized by its tubular flowers that resemble a dragon's snout. The petals are hinged and open when squeezed, revealing the stamen and style.
Examples
“The garden was full of bright orange snapdragons.”
“She picked a snapdragon and gently squeezed the petals to see the tiny 'teeth' inside the flower.”
“While snapdragons are often used as ornamental borders in gardens, their unique hinged petals make them a popular subject for botanical illustration and scientific study of floral mechanics.”
Examples
simple
“The garden was full of bright orange snapdragons.”
contextual
“She picked a snapdragon and gently squeezed the petals to see the tiny 'teeth' inside the flower.”
complex
“While snapdragons are often used as ornamental borders in gardens, their unique hinged petals make them a popular subject for botanical illustration and scientific study of floral mechanics.”
Etymology
(1570s) From snap + dragon, from a fancied resemblance, especially by playing children that the flower is a dragon that opens its "mouth" when squeezed on the sides. Compare for this sense the etymology of Dutch leeuwenbek (“snapdragon”, literally “lion's mouth”) and German Löwenmaul. An ancient name was Old English hundeshéafod (literally “dog's head”). For the parlour game sense, the 1704 Swift quotation is apparently the earliest appearance in print. Other animal-based names for the flower are common; compare Greek σκυλάκι (skyláki, literally “puppy”) and Finnish leijonankita (literally “lion's mouth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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