Main Entry:

mag·no·lia

Pronunciation:

\mag-ˈnōl-yə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

Date:

1748

: any of a genus (Magnolia of the family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of American and Asian shrubs and trees with entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers usually appearing in early spring

[magnolia illustration]