Meaning & use
bellflowers
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“bellflowers” is a form of “bellflower”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralbiology
Plants with bell-shaped flowers, typically blue, purple, or white, belonging to the genus Campanula.
Grammar: The plural form 'bellflowers' refers to multiple plants or flowers; the singular is 'bellflower'.
Patterns
- bellflowers grow
- plant bellflowers
- a field of bellflowers
The garden was full of blue bellflowers in early summer.
She planted bellflowers along the fence.
Bellflowers are easy to grow in partial shade.
nouncountablebiology
The flowers of these plants, which are shaped like small bells.
Grammar: Can be used as a countable noun: 'a bellflower'.
Patterns
- a bellflower
- bellflowers bloom
She picked a few bellflowers for the vase.
The bellflowers bloomed in late spring.
Each bellflower has five petals.
Word forms
| singular | bellflower |
|---|
Common combinations
- blue bellflowers
- The blue bellflowers added color to the garden.
- plant bellflowers
- We plan to plant bellflowers next to the roses.
- bellflowers bloom
- These bellflowers bloom from June to August.
- a cluster of bellflowers
- A cluster of bellflowers grew by the stone wall.
Synonyms and how they differ
- campanula
- Campanula is the scientific name for the genus; bellflower is the common name.
- harebell
- Harebell is a specific type of bellflower with delicate blue flowers; not all bellflowers are harebells.
Commonly confused: bellflowers or bluebell?
bellflowers vs bluebell
Bluebell is a different plant with blue bell-shaped flowers, often wild; bellflower is a broader term for many garden plants.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'bellflowers' correctly?
Choose one answer.
In B, 'bellflowers' is used as a plural noun with 'planted'. In A, the verb should be 'are' because 'bellflowers' is plural. In C, 'bellflowers' are not trees. In D, the article 'a' should not be used with a plural noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bellflowers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.