violet Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
  2. noun a variable color that lies beyond blue in the spectrum
    reddish blue.
  3. adjective satellite of a color intermediate between red and blue
    purple; purplish.

WordNet

Vi"o*let noun
Etymology
F. violette a violet (cf. violet violet-colored), dim. of OF. viole a violet, L. viola; akin to Gr. . Cf. Iodine.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) Any plant or flower of the genus Viola, of many species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while others are white or yellow, or of several colors, as the pansy (Viola tricolor). ✍ The cultivated sweet violet is Viola odorata of Europe. The common blue violet of the eastern United States is V. cucullata; the sand, or bird-foot, violet is V. pedata.
  2. The color of a violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the spectrum.
  3. In art, a color produced by a combination of red and blue in equal proportions; a bluish purple color. Mollett.
  4. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small violet-colored butterflies belonging to Lycæna, or Rusticus, and allied genera.
Vi"o*let adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. violet. See Violet, n.
Definitions
  1. Dark blue, inclining to red; bluish purple; having a color produced by red and blue combined.

Webster 1913