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Heliotrope

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

2. (Science: botany) a plant of the genus Heliotropium; called also turnsole and girasole. H. Peruvianum is the commonly cultivated species with fragrant flowers.

3. An instrument for making signals to an observer at a distance, by means of the suns rays thrown from a mirror.

4. (Science: chemical) see bloodstone . Heliotrope purple, a grayish purple colour.

Origin: f. Heliotrope, L. Heliotropium, gr.; the sun _ to turn, turn. See heliacal, Trope.