daisy

views updated Jun 27 2018

dai·sy / ˈdāzē/ • n. (pl. -ies) a small grassland plant (family Compositae) that has flowers with a yellow disk and white rays. It has given rise to many ornamental garden varieties.PHRASES: (as) fresh as a daisy healthy and full of energy.pushing up (the) daisies inf. dead and buried.ORIGIN: Old English dæges ēage ‘day's eye.’

daisy

views updated May 21 2018

daisy the white-petalled, yellow-centred flowers of this plant are associated with spring (as in the proverb it is not spring until you can plant your foot upon twelve daisies). In informal use (chiefly US) a daisy is something regarded as first-rate or charming.
daisy chain a string of daisies threaded together by their stems; in figurative usage, a series of associated or connected people or things.

daisy

views updated Jun 08 2018

daisy Any of several members of the family Asteraceae/Compositae, especially the common English garden daisy, Bellis perennis. It has basal leaves and long stalks bearing solitary flower heads, each of which has a large, yellow, central disc and small radiating white petal-like florets.

daisy

views updated Jun 27 2018

daisy OE. dæġes ēaġe ‘day's eye’; so named from its covering the yellow disc in the evening and disclosing it in the morning.

daisy

views updated May 23 2018

daisy See BELLIS.