Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A genus of ornamental plants of the polypetalous order Ranunculaceæ, the tribe Helleboreæ, and the subtribe Isopyreæ, known by the united carpels forming a compound ovary.
  • noun A plant of the genus Nigella; also some other plants, especially with a qualifying word.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun any plant of the genus Nigella.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A taxonomic genus within the tribe Nigelleae — of flowering plants with distinctive finely divided leaves, the nigella..
  • proper noun rare A female given name.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any plant of the genus Nigella

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

A 19th century flower name from nigella. Compare also the male given name Nigel.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Nigella.

Examples

  • The Malakoff Torte shared by Not Quite Nigella is the type of cake that looks very impressive, but is surprisingly easy to make.

    Bites from other Blogs | Baking Bites 2009

  • But this morning, while listening to the news I heard this delicious bit: Nigella is back on TV, with a show based on her Feast: Food to Celebrate Life book.

    Delectables 2008

  • But this morning, while listening to the news I heard this delicious bit: Nigella is back on TV, with a show based on her Feast: Food to Celebrate Life book.

    Nigella Feasts on Food TV 2006

  • But this morning, while listening to the news I heard this delicious bit: Nigella is back on TV, with a show based on her Feast: Food to Celebrate Life book.

    Nigella Feasts on Food TV 2006

  • But this morning, while listening to the news I heard this delicious bit: Nigella is back on TV, with a show based on her Feast: Food to Celebrate Life book.

    Seattle Bon Vivant: 2006

  • I found a royal icing recipe in Nigella Lawson's Feast, which I had from the library.

    Toast: Lindy 2005

  • I found a royal icing recipe in Nigella Lawson's Feast, which I had from the library.

    The Icing on the Cake Lindy 2005

  • Philip Stone and Tom Tivnan from The Bookseller magazine, who compiled the figures from market research company Neilsen Bookscan, said: "Nigella Lawson's seasonal title Nigella's Christmas was never going to match the huge 2007 hit Nigella Express and her sales slumped accordingly."

    dailyindia.com News Feed 2009

  • Prepare for a total immersion in Nigella’s food life and the delicious feasts she cooks for herself, friends, family — from big, special occasions to small, everyday pleasures.

    Delectables 2008

  • Prepare for a total immersion in Nigella’s food life and the delicious feasts she cooks for herself, friends, family — from big, special occasions to small, everyday pleasures.

    Seattle Bon Vivant: 2006

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • patron saint of well-bred dipsomania

    March 7, 2021