Adonis \A*do"nis\ ([.a]*d[=o]"n[i^]s), n. [L., gr. Gr. 'A`dwnis.]

1. (Gr. Myth.) A youth beloved by Venus for his beauty. He was killed in the chase by a wild boar.

2. A pre["e]minently beautiful young man; a dandy.

3. (Bot.) A genus of plants of the family Ranunculace[ae], containing the pheasant's eye (Adonis autumnalis); -- named from Adonis, whose blood was fabled to have stained the flower.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)