bougainvillea

noun

bou·​gain·​vil·​lea ˌbü-gən-ˈvil-yə How to pronounce bougainvillea (audio)
ˌbō-,
ˌbu̇-,
-ˈvē-ə How to pronounce bougainvillea (audio)
variants or less commonly bougainvillaea
: any of a genus (Bougainvillaea) of the four-o'clock family of ornamental tropical American woody vines and shrubs with brilliant purple or red floral bracts

Examples of bougainvillea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Artists had been commissioned to carve intricate wooden street signs to hang between the palms and bougainvillea in Hanga Roa, the island’s capital and only town. Mark Johanson, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024 The multi-level terrace sprawls across 36,000 square feet and features cobbled stone pathways, bamboo lanterns, and bougainvillea adorning the white and blue walls. Jahnavi Bhatt, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Dec. 2023 Palm Beach Everett Simon, the event planner and floral designer, incorporated the Moorish architecture and pink bougainvillea prevalent in Palm Beach into the wedding. Sadiba Hasan, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023 Perched high above street level and privately shielded from view behind giant bougainvillea plants and a big driveway gate, the single-story Spanish hacienda was built in 1950 but recently underwent a renovation. James McClain, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023 It was made from the carretto and bougainvillea print from a 2014 collection inspired by Taormina on a sunny day, with the bottom of the dress including a motif of the iconic Sicilian carretto wheel. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2023 The artificial bougainvillea flowers and leaves are made from synthetic fabric intended only for indoor use. Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023 Here, the land is bursting with bright bougainvillea and dotted with Cypress trees. Tom Weijand, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023 This coastal enclave, where rooms and suites are housed in white cottages set among olive trees and pink bougainvillea and an open-plan restaurant, bar and lounge with outdoor terrace commands views over the Aegean Sea, is positioned on the lush hillside overlooking Türkbükü Bay. Lauren Jade Hill, Forbes, 26 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bougainvillea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Louis Antoine de Bougainville

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bougainvillea was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near bougainvillea

Cite this Entry

“Bougainvillea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bougainvillea. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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