petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpe-tᵊl How to pronounce petal (audio)
: one of the modified often brightly colored leaves of the corolla of a flower see flower illustration
petaled adjective
or petalled
petallike adjective

Examples of petal in a Sentence

flowers with pink and white petals
Recent Examples on the Web That’s because the key botanicals used to flavor the spirit—rose petals and cucumber—were considered to be unusual at the time. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Abnormally cold, rainy or windy weather can strip the trees of petals within a few days. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 And sure, have a romantic dinner and sprinkle some rose petals on the sheets if that’s up your alley. Ian Kerner, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 The dreamy setup involved a ton of rose petals and candles to create the most whimsical and romantic atmosphere for their unforgettable date night. Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2024 But the biggest star statement at the show was the ultra-voluminous white overcoat composed of real rose petals worn by Jennifer Lopez, who paired the look with black leggings and surrealist sunglasses. Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2024 The dreamy collection includes overcoats, jackets, shirts and dresses in pale pink with tan, and dark brown, sometimes with a pretty applique of petals or jewels. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The bean paste perfectly ties together the crisp rice crackers and garnishes that include seeds, micro greens and flower petals. Liz Schubauer, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 In photos shared by the Pitch Perfect star and her girlfriend showed the two in matching sweaters embracing in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle as pink and white flower petals cascade around them. Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petal.' 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 petalum, from Greek petalon; akin to Greek petannynai to spread out — more at fathom

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petal was in 1712

Dictionary Entries Near petal

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

petal

noun
pet·​al ˈpet-ᵊl How to pronounce petal (audio)
: one of the often brightly colored modified leaves that make up the corolla of a flower
petaled adjective
or petalled
petallike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on petal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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