English Dictionary

BITTERSWEET

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bittersweet mean? 

BITTERSWEET (noun)
  The noun BITTERSWEET has 2 senses:

1. poisonous perennial Old World vine having violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North Americaplay

2. twining shrub of North America having yellow capsules enclosing scarlet seedsplay

  Familiarity information: BITTERSWEET used as a noun is rare.


BITTERSWEET (adjective)
  The adjective BITTERSWEET has 2 senses:

1. tinged with sadnessplay

2. having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness and sweetnessplay

  Familiarity information: BITTERSWEET used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


BITTERSWEET (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Poisonous perennial Old World vine having violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North America

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

bittersweet; bittersweet nightshade; climbing nightshade; deadly nightshade; poisonous nightshade; Solanum dulcamara; woody nightshade

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)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Twining shrub of North America having yellow capsules enclosing scarlet seeds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

American bittersweet; bittersweet; Celastrus scandens; climbing bittersweet; false bittersweet; shrubby bittersweet; staff vine; waxwork

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)


BITTERSWEET (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Tinged with sadness

Context example:

a movie with a bittersweet ending

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

Similar:

tasty (pleasing to the sense of taste)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Bread is the staff of life." (English proverb)

"The hand with mud, the bread with honey." (Albanian proverb)

"Every disease has a medicine except for death." (Arabic proverb)

"The vine says to the vintager: "Make me poor, and I will make you rich."" (Corsican proverb)



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