plural poppies
1
a
: any of a genus (Papaver of the family Papaveraceae, the poppy family) of chiefly annual or perennial herbs with milky juice, showy regular flowers, and capsular fruits including the opium poppy and several forms cultivated as ornamentals
b
: an extract or decoction of poppy used medicinally
2
: a strong reddish orange
poppier; poppiest
: characteristic of popular music especially in being catchy or broadly appealing
"Heart Clicks," the first single and poppiest song on the album, came together overnight as Usher grappled with writer's block.—
David Friend
David FriendAiming for an off-the-wall yet poppy vibe, his latest single … touches on issues that everyone can relate to in some way.—Beverley Knight
Beverley Knight… the group—despite its infatuation with raw, bluesy textures—plays with a crispness that makes even its more sardonic numbers seem relatively bright and poppy.—Elysa Gardner
Elysa GardnerBy now Chvrches have … repeatedly expressed frustration at people reading unintended messages into their music. Perhaps that's why the two most traditionally poppy songs here are the most pointed: so as to leave no room for misunderstanding.—Katherine St. Asaph
Katherine St. AsaphA Flock of Seagulls sounded like a more cheerful, poppier version of the guitar-driven Irish band U2 on its first album …—Jon Pareles
Jon ParelesExamples of poppy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Bear in mind that many poppies bloom on roadside slopes outside the reserve.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2025
This instinct persists in modern social behaviors, contributing to tall poppy syndrome.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poppy
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Noun
The red poppies that honor America’s war dead will be distributed in front of the Albertsons, Stater Bros., and Tractor Supply stores in Ramona in addition to the Country Wine & Spirits store in San Diego Country Estates.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025
Bear in mind that many poppies bloom on roadside slopes outside the reserve.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The same is true of the songs of No Doubt, an Anaheim band that leaned into poppy angst while coming of age in the shadow of the Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 26 May 2025
This instinct persists in modern social behaviors, contributing to tall poppy syndrome.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poppy
Cite this Entry
“Poppy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poppy. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poppy
noun
pop·py
ˈpäp-ē 
plural poppies
: any of a genus of herbs that have milky juice, showy flowers, and a fruit that is a capsule and include one that is the source of opium and several that are grown as ornamental plants
Medical Definition
poppy
noun
pop·py
ˈpäp-ē
plural poppies
: any herb of the genus Papaver (family Papaveraceae, the poppy family)
especially
: opium poppy
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