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BITTERSWEET
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Twining shrub of North America having yellow capsules enclosing scarlet seeds
Synonyms:
American bittersweet; bittersweet; Celastrus scandens; climbing bittersweet; false bittersweet; shrubby bittersweet; staff vine; waxwork
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("bittersweet" is a kind of...):
vine (a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface)
Holonyms ("bittersweet" is a member of...):
Celastrus; genus Celastrus (genus of woody vines and erect shrubs (type genus of the Celastraceae) that is native chiefly to Asia and Australia: includes bittersweet)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Poisonous perennial Old World vine having violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North America
Synonyms:
bittersweet; bittersweet nightshade; climbing nightshade; deadly nightshade; poisonous nightshade; Solanum dulcamara; woody nightshade
Classified under:
Nouns denoting plants
Hypernyms ("bittersweet" is a kind of...):
nightshade (any of numerous shrubs or herbs or vines of the genus Solanum; most are poisonous though many bear edible fruit)
Holonyms ("bittersweet" is a member of...):
genus Solanum; Solanum (type genus of the Solanaceae: nightshade; potato; eggplant; bittersweet)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Tinged with sadness
Example:
a movie with a bittersweet ending
Classified under:
Similar:
sad (experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetness
Synonyms:
bittersweet; semisweet
Classified under:
Similar:
tasty (pleasing to the sense of taste)
