[he.lio.trope] n [L heliotropium, fr. Gk heliotropion, fr. helio- [1]heli- + tropos turn; fr. its flowers' turning toward the sun--more at trope] (ca. 1626) 1: any of a genus (Heliotropium) of herbs or shrubs of the borage family--compare garden heliotrope
2: bloodstone
3: a variable color averaging a moderate to reddish purple