n. 1 a piece of grassland, esp. one used for hay. 2 a piece of low well-watered ground, esp. near a river. meadow brown a common brown butterfly, Maniola jurtina. meadow-grass a perennial creeping grass, Poa pratensis. meadow lark US any songbird of the genus Sturnella, esp. the yellow-breasted S. magna of n. America. meadow pipit a common pipit, Anthus pratensis, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. meadow rue any ranunculaceous plant of the genus Thalictrum, esp. T. flavum with small yellow flowers. meadow saffron a perennial plant, Colchicum autumnale, abundant in meadows, with lilac flowers: also called autumn crocus. meadowy adj.
[ OE mdwe, oblique case of md: see MEAD(2) ]