poppy

1 of 2

noun

pop·​py ˈpä-pē How to pronounce poppy (audio)
plural poppies
1
a
: any of a genus (Papaver of the family Papaveraceae, the poppy family) of chiefly annual or perennial herbs with milky juice, showy regular flowers, and capsular fruits including the opium poppy and several forms cultivated as ornamentals
b
: an extract or decoction of poppy used medicinally
2
: a strong reddish orange

poppy

2 of 2

adjective

pop·​py ˈpä-pē How to pronounce poppy (audio)
poppier; poppiest
: characteristic of popular music especially in being catchy or broadly appealing
"Heart Clicks," the first single and poppiest song on the album, came together overnight as Usher grappled with writer's block.David Friend
Aiming for an off-the-wall yet poppy vibe, his latest single … touches on issues that everyone can relate to in some way.Beverley Knight
… the group—despite its infatuation with raw, bluesy textures—plays with a crispness that makes even its more sardonic numbers seem relatively bright and poppy.Elysa Gardner
By now Chvrches have … repeatedly expressed frustration at people reading unintended messages into their music. Perhaps that's why the two most traditionally poppy songs here are the most pointed: so as to leave no room for misunderstanding.Katherine St. Asaph
A Flock of Seagulls sounded like a more cheerful, poppier version of the guitar-driven Irish band U2 on its first album …Jon Pareles

Examples of poppy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The king will lay a wreath of poppies at the base of the Cenotaph during Sunday's event. Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024 Other collections run the gamut, from a mix of poppies to culinary herbs, or easy-to-grow vegetable seeds for the beginning gardener. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The poppy collection was a huge win when the singer released it in 2019, and the project spun off a number of very successful singles. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 Unlike several of the other titles on this list, Paprika’s creepiest scenes are usually rendered in bright, poppy colors. Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for poppy 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English popi, from Old English popæg, popig, modification of Latin papaver

Adjective

pop entry 6 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poppy was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near poppy

Cite this Entry

“Poppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poppy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

poppy

noun
pop·​py ˈpäp-ē How to pronounce poppy (audio)
plural poppies
: any of a genus of herbs that have milky juice, showy flowers, and a fruit that is a capsule and include one that is the source of opium and several that are grown as ornamental plants

Medical Definition

poppy

noun
pop·​py ˈpäp-ē How to pronounce poppy (audio)
plural poppies
: any herb of the genus Papaver (family Papaveraceae, the poppy family)
especially : opium poppy

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