violet

noun

• 1a herbaceous plant of temperate regions, typically having purple, blue, or white five-petalled flowers, one petal of which forms a landing pad for pollinating insects.

  • Genus Viola, family Violaceae (the violet family): many species, including the dog violet and sweet violet. See also viola²
• used in names of similar-flowered plants of other families, e.g. African violet.

• 2 [mass noun] a bluish-purple colour seen at the end of the spectrum opposite red: a beautiful blue with a tinge of violet

adjective

• of a bluish-purple colour: her almost violet eyes were a bit startling