marguerite

IPA/ˌmɑːɡəˈriːt/
KK[mˌɑrɡɚˈit]IPA/ˌmɑːrɡəˈriːt/

marguerite — noun

1. a wild daisy that grows in fields or rough grass, with long white petals around

1.nounC2
Definition

a wild daisy that grows in fields or rough grass, with long white petals around a yellow middle

Example

After the rain, Esme spotted marguerites shining beside the village field.

wild marguerites growing in a field

Lan picked one marguerite from the grass and tucked it into a hat.

countable: pick a marguerite

Common collocations
  • wild marguerite
  • white marguerite
  • field marguerites
  • pick a marguerite
Synonyms
  • daisy

    a broader everyday word that can refer to several similar flowers

  • oxeye daisy

    a more exact name for this wild field flower

Grammar Patterns

pick a marguerite

marguerites bloom in fields

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2: this sense usually names the taller wild flower seen in grass or meadows, rather than the decorative garden plant.

2. a plant grown in gardens for its daisy-shaped flowers, often white, pink, or yel

2.nounC2
Definition

a plant grown in gardens for its daisy-shaped flowers, often white, pink, or yellow around a bright centre

Example

Justin planted pink marguerites in clay pots outside the cafe door.

garden marguerites grown in pots

Adina watered the marguerite on the balcony before the guests arrived.

care for a potted marguerite

Common collocations
  • pink marguerite
  • potted marguerite
  • marguerite bush
  • plant marguerites
Synonyms
  • daisy

    a broader everyday word that does not point to this garden variety specifically

  • marguerite daisy

    a fuller gardening name for this decorative plant

Grammar Patterns

plant marguerites in pots

water a marguerite

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is the garden kind people grow in pots or flower beds for decoration.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Marguerite is more specific than daisy. Daisy is the broad everyday word for many flowers with a yellow middle and light petals, while marguerite usually points either to the taller wild field flower or to a decorative garden kind. Oxeye daisy is narrower still and fits the wild flower in sense 1 especially well. Chrysanthemum is broader in another direction: it usually suggests larger garden flowers and does not naturally point to these simple daisy-like blooms. Use marguerite when the exact flower type matters in gardening or description. You might say the field was full of marguerites, but in casual talk many people would simply say daisies.

marguerite ↗daisy ↗oxeye daisychrysanthemum ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • marguerite bush
  • marguerite petals
  • marguerite pot

Phrases

  • grow marguerites in pots
  • pick a marguerite from the grass

Etymology

Middle FrenchFrenchEnglish

Marguerite came into English from French. The French form goes back to a Middle French word that could mean both a pearl and a daisy. English kept marguerite as a flower name, especially for daisy-like plants seen in fields or grown in gardens.

First known use

1605

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1