daisies

Word family

• daisy
  nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A daisy is a small wildflower with white petals and a yellow centre. It is often confused with a dandelion, which also has a yellow centre, but dandelion petals are entirely yellow and the plant later turns into a fluffy white seed head that children blow on to make a wish. A sunflower is much larger — it grows on a tall thick stem and has a dark brown centre surrounded by bright yellow petals. A marigold has denser, layered petals in shades of orange and yellow and is usually planted in gardens rather than found growing wild. All four flowers have a round centre, but among them the daisy is the smallest and most delicate. For example, you might say 'The meadow was full of daisies and dandelions,' but you would not say 'The meadow was full of daisies and sunflowers' because sunflowers grow much taller and dominate the space differently.

Common collocations

Etymology

The word 'daisy' comes from the Old English 'dæges ēage,' meaning 'day's eye.' The flower was given this name because its petals open at dawn when the sun rises and close again at dusk, as if the flower were an eye opening and closing with the daylight.