Category:Heliotrope

He"li*o*trope, n. Etym: [F. héliotrope, L. heliotropium, Gr. Heliacal, Trope.]

1. (Anc. Astron.)

Defn: An instrument or machine for showing when the sun arrived at the tropics and equinoctial line.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Heliotropium; -- called also turnsole and girasole. H. Peruvianum is the commonly cultivated species with fragrant flowers.

3. (Geodesy & Signal Service)

Defn: An instrument for making signals to an observer at a distance, by means of the sun's rays thrown from a mirror.

4. (Min.)

Defn: See Bloodstone (a). Heliotrope purple, a grayish purple color.