primrose
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
primrose/ˈprɪmrəʊz/
▶noun
- 1 a woodland and hedgerow plant which produces pale yellow flowers in early spring. [Primula vulgaris.]
- 2 a pale yellow colour.
– phrases
primrose path the pursuit of pleasure, especially when bringing disastrous consequences. [with allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet i. iii. 50.]
primrose path the pursuit of pleasure, especially when bringing disastrous consequences. [with allusion to Shakespeare's Hamlet i. iii. 50.]
– origin ME: cf. OFr. primerose and med. L. prima rosa, lit. ‘first rose’.
'primrose' also found in these Oxford entries:
