heliotrope etymology

Etymology:

  • Greek "helios" (sun) + "trope" (turning)

Meaning:

  • A plant that turns its flowers toward the sun
  • Something that turns or follows the sun

Origin:

The term "heliotrope" was first used in ancient Greece to describe a plant known as "heliotropion" or "turn-to-the-sun." This plant was believed to have the ability to turn its flowers to face the sun throughout the day. The Greeks associated the plant with the sun god Helios and used it for various medicinal and magical purposes.

In the 16th century, the term "heliotrope" was also applied to a type of gemstone known as "bloodstone." This gemstone was believed to have the ability to change color in the presence of sunlight, and was often used in jewelry and amulets.

Over time, the term "heliotrope" came to have a more general meaning, referring to anything that turns or follows the sun. It is now commonly used in botany, astronomy, and other fields to describe objects or phenomena that exhibit heliotropic behavior.

heliotrope relate terms

  • heliotropism

    Etymology Helio Greek sun tropism Greek turning Meaning Heliotropism is t

  • heliotrope

    Etymology Greek helios sun trope turning Meaning A plant that turns its

  • anthelion

    Etymology The word anthelion is derived from two Greek words ἀντί anti aga

  • aphelion

    Etymology Ancient Greek apo away from helios sun Meaning and Origin Aph

  • girasole

    Etymology The word girasole is derived from the Italian phrase girare il sole which

  • heliacal

    Etymology Greek helios sun akros tip point Meaning Relating to or occu

  • helio

    Etymology Greek ἥλιος hēlios meaning sun Meaning Helio is a Greek name

  • heliotrope

    Etymology Greek helios sun trope turning Meaning A plant that turns its

  • insolate

    Etymology The word insolate comes from the Latin word insolare which means to exp

  • insolation

    Etymology Insolation is derived from the Latin words in meaning into and sol

  • parasol

    Etymology and Meaning The word parasol comes from the French word parasol which is d

  • parhelion

    Etymology The word parhelion comes from the Greek words para meaning beside or ne

  • perihelion

    Etymology The word perihelion comes from the Greek words peri around and helios

  • solar

    Etymology From Latin solāris of or belonging to the sun from sōl sun First a

  • solarium

    Etymology Latin solarium Meaning A sunny place or room especially one used for s

  • solstice

    Etymology The word solstice is derived from the Latin word solstitium which means s

  • south

    Etymology and Origin of South The word south originates from the Proto Indo European

  • southern

    Etymology The term southern comes from the Old English word sūðerna which in turn

  • Sunday

    Etymology The word Sunday has its origins in Old English Sunnandæg c 700 CE Sunn

  • apotropaic

    Etymology Greek ἀποτρόπαιος apotropaios averting evil Proto Indo Euro

  • Atropos

    Etymology The name Atropos is derived from the Greek word atropos which means unbendi

  • contrive

    Etymology Middle English contrive from Anglo French contriver from Latin contrōvār

  • entropy

    Etymology and Origin The term entropy originates from the Greek word εντροπία

  • heliotrope

    Etymology Greek helios sun trope turning Meaning A plant that turns its

  • isotropic

    Etymology Derived from Greek iso equal and tropikos turning direction Mean

  • psychotropic

    Etymology The term psychotropic is derived from two Greek words Psyche Meaning

  • retrieve

    Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek word etymos which means true

  • trope

    Etymology The term trope originates from the Greek word tropos which means turn o

  • trophy

    Etymology The word trophy comes from the Greek word tropaion τρόπαιον whi

  • tropic

    Etymology The word tropic comes from the Greek word tropos which means a turn Th

  • tropical

    Etymology The word tropical comes from the Greek word tropos which means turning

  • tropism

    Etymology The word tropism comes from the Greek word τρόπος tropos meaning tu

  • troposphere

    Etymology tropo Greek turning changing sphere Greek ball sphere Meaning

  • troubadour

    Etymology Old Provençal trobador Latin tropare Greek τρόπος tropos meaning

  • zoetrope

    Etymology Zoetrope comes from the Greek words zoe ζωή meaning life and tropos

  • yield

    Etymology Old English ġieldan meaning to pay render submit surrender Meaning

  • brood

    Etymology The word brood comes from the Middle English word brod which is derived fr

  • review

    Etymology The word review derives from the Old French word reveue which in turn come

  • eclectic

    Etymology From Late Latin eclēcticus from Ancient Greek eklektikos selective disce

  • macabre

    Etymology Latin macaber Old French macabre Middle French macabre English macabre

  • bishop

    Etymology From Middle English bischop from Old English biscop from Frankish biskups

  • imminent

    Etymology The word imminent derives from the Latin word imminēre which means to ov

  • joke

    Etymology The word joke originates from the Middle English term jopen meaning to j

  • abortion

    Etymology From Latin abortus meaning a miscarriage or premature birth Derived from

  • power

    Etymology Old French pouer Latin potere to be able Proto Indo European root pot