violets

vi*o*let

noun

{bc}any of a genus ({it}Viola{/it} of the family Violaceae, the violet family) of chiefly herbs with alternate stipulate leaves and showy flowers in spring and often cleistogamous flowers in summer

African violet

noun

{bc}any of several tropical African gesneriads (especially {it}Saintpaulia ionantha{/it}) widely grown as houseplants for their velvety fleshy leaves and showy purple, pink, or white flowers

bird's-foot violet

noun

{bc}a common violet ({it}Viola pedata{/it}) of the eastern U.S. with deeply cleft leaves and pale blue to purple flowers

crystal violet

noun

{bc}a triphenylmethane dye found in gentian violet

dogtooth violet

noun

{bc}any of a genus ({it}Erythronium{/it}) of small spring-flowering bulbous herbs of the lily family

gentian violet

noun

{bc}any of several dyes or dye mixtures consisting of one or more methyl derivatives of pararosaniline

shrinking violet

noun

{bc}a bashful or retiring person