Dictionary Definition
bittersweet adj
1 tinged with sadness; "a movie with a
bittersweet ending"
2 having a taste that is a mixture of bitterness
and sweetness [syn: semisweet]
Noun
1 poisonous perennial Old World vine having
violet flowers and oval coral-red berries; widespread weed in North
America [syn: bittersweet
nightshade, climbing
nightshade, deadly
nightshade, poisonous
nightshade, woody
nightshade, Solanum
dulcamara]
2 twining shrub of North America having
three-valved yellow capsules enclosing scarlet seeds [syn: American
bittersweet, climbing
bittersweet, false
bittersweet, staff vine,
waxwork, Celastrus
scandens]
User Contributed Dictionary
Translations
both bitter and sweet
- Finnish: katkeranmakea
- Serbian: gorkoslad
expressing contrasting emotions of pain and
pleasure
- Finnish: katkeransuloinen
- Serbian: gorkoslatko
Noun
- a vine, of the genus Celastrus, having small orange fruits that open to reveal red seeds
- the bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara
Translations
a vine, of the genus Celastrus
- Finnish: kelasköynnös
- Serbian: paskvica
the bittersweet nightshade, Solanum dulcamara
- Finnish: punakoiso
Extensive Definition
Bittersweet refers to a combination of the
standard tastes of sweetness and bitterness,
and is often used as a metaphor for experiences which
have elements of both happiness and sadness.
The term may also refer to:
Biology
- A vine in the nightshade family, Solanum dulcamara
- Some species of vines in the genus Celastrus, including American bittersweet (C. scandens) and Oriental bittersweet (C. orbiculatus).
- The Glycymerididae family of shellfish, known as bittersweets or Dog cockles.
Music
- , an electronic band.
A number of songs and albums:
- Bittersweet (Apocalyptica song), a song by the band Apocalyptica, The Rasmus and HIM
- Bittersweet (Fuel song), a song by the band Fuel
- "Bittersweet", a hit song by Big Head Todd & the Monsters
- Bittersweet (Hoodoo Gurus song), a 1985 song by Australian rock group Hoodoo Gurus from their album Mars Needs Guitars!
- Bittersweet Me, a song and single by the rock band R.E.M.
- Bitter Sweet Symphony, a song by The Verve
- Bittersweet (album), an album by Blu Cantrell
- Bittersweet Symphony (album), an album by Jade Valerie.
- "Bittersweet", a song by Kanye West
- Bittersweet World, an album by Ashlee Simpson
- Bitter Suite, a single from Stoke-On-Trent band Friends Of Ken