magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: 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

Illustration of magnolia

Examples of magnolia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At present, those trees include olive, eucalyptus, fig, magnolia, silk floss, flame, peach, flowering cherry, purple acacia, pomegranate, orange, lemon, persimmon, avocado, and plum. —Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 6 Sep. 2024

After a reluctant tour, however, she was sold on the courtyard and its blooming magnolia tree. —Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 8 Aug. 2024

From the 3-foot-long leaves of the big leaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) and the dinner-plate-sized leaves of ‘Empress Wu’ hosta, to the delicate sprays of ornamental grasses and ferns, texture contrasts can keep the summer garden from hitting the design doldrums. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 31 May 2024

The shape, something like an elegantly twisted femur, debuted in sterling silver and terra-cotta two years later and then, in 1986, in magnolia wood. —Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus of North American and Asian trees or tall shrubs having usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers that appear before or sometimes with the leaves in the spring

Medical Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of North American and Asian shrubs and trees including some whose bark has been used especially as a bitter tonic and diaphoretic in folk medicine

2

a

: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia

b

: the dried bark of a magnolia