abronia

noun abro·nia \ əˈbrōnēə \

Definition of abronia

1 capitalized : a genus of herbs (family Nyctaginaceae) native to western North America having showy fragrant flowers in bracted heads and with the salver-shaped calyx having a 3-winged base — see sand verbena

2 plural -s : any plant of the genus Abronia

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Origin and Etymology of abronia

borrowed from New Latin, from Greek habrós “graceful, delicate” + New Latin -onia (probably as in Paeoniapeony and the names of other flowering plants)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1806

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year