Illustration of periwinkle
- periwinkle a
per·i·win·kle
ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl 
1
: any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: such as
a(1)
: a European creeper (Vinca minor) widely cultivated as a ground cover and for its blue or white flowers
called also myrtle
(2)
: a trailing plant (Vinca major) with large blue flowers that is used as a ground cover and in window boxes
b
2
: a light purplish blue
called also periwinkle blue
: any of various gastropod mollusks: such as
a
: any of a genus (Littorina) of edible littoral marine snails
also
: any of various similar or related marine snails
b
: any of several North American freshwater snails
Examples of periwinkle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024
Across from the sparkling Susquehanna River, there was a row of Democratic lawn signs: Malcolm Kenyatta for auditor general, Bob Casey for U.S. Senate, and, most important, in white letters atop a periwinkle not unlike that of the sky, Kamala Harris for President.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
In addition to the periwinkle blue like Garner wore, the top comes in 13 colors like red, camel, and black.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
This purple, periwinkle, and metallic rose bundle makes for a perfectly wintery, always creamy, and blendable eye look.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for periwinkle 
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Noun
From purple-tinged periwinkle to vivid true blue, the monochromatic layering adds dimension but keeps the overall feeling calm.
—Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024
Across from the sparkling Susquehanna River, there was a row of Democratic lawn signs: Malcolm Kenyatta for auditor general, Bob Casey for U.S. Senate, and, most important, in white letters atop a periwinkle not unlike that of the sky, Kamala Harris for President.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024
In addition to the periwinkle blue like Garner wore, the top comes in 13 colors like red, camel, and black.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
This purple, periwinkle, and metallic rose bundle makes for a perfectly wintery, always creamy, and blendable eye look.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for periwinkle
Dictionary Entries Near periwinkle
Cite this Entry
“Periwinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periwinkle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
periwinkle
1 of 2 noun
per·i·win·kle
ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl
: an evergreen herb that spreads along the ground and has shiny leaves and blue or white flowers
periwinkle
2 of 2 noun1
: any of various small edible marine snails of coastal regions
2
: the shell of a periwinkle
Etymology
Noun
Old English perwince "periwinkle vine," from Latin pervinca (same meaning)
Noun
Old English pinewincle "an edible sea snail"
Medical Definition
periwinkle
noun
per·i·win·kle
ˈper-i-ˌwiŋ-kəl
: any of several trailing or woody evergreen plants of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae)
especially
: rosy periwinkle
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