periwinkle Definition

any of several trailing or woody evergreen herbs of the dogbane family: such as

a European creeper (Vinca minor) widely cultivated as a ground cover and for its blue or white flowers —called also myrtle

a trailing plant (Vinca major) with large blue flowers that is used as a ground cover and in window boxes

any of various gastropod mollusks: such as

any of a genus (Littorina) of edible littoral marine snails; also : any of various similar or related marine snails

any of several North American freshwater snails

a commonly cultivated subshrub (Catharanthus roseus synonym Vinca rosea) of the dogbane family that is native to the Old World tropics and is the source of several antineoplastic drugs —called also Madagascar periwinkle, periwinkle

rosy periwinkle