Standard Lemma guide

thistledown

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The soft, feathery pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

pappus of a thistle consisting of silky featherlike hairs attached to the seed-like fruit of a thistle

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pappus

History

Etymology

From thistle + down.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: vil·là — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Czech: chmýří — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Irish: canach feochadáin — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Plautdietsch: Disteljedaun — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Scottish Gaelic: fras cluarain — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Spanish: vilano — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Spanish: vilano de cardo — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle
  • Welsh: gwlân ysgall — pappus attached to the seeds of a thistle