plural calyxes or calyces
ˈkā-lə-ˌsēz 
also ˈka-
1
: the usually green outer whorl of a flower consisting of separate or fused sepals
2
: a cuplike division of the renal pelvis surrounding one or more renal papillae
3
: a cup-shaped animal structure (such as the body wall of a crinoid)
Examples of calyx in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The silvery foliage, honeybee in flight, softly dusted purple abundance of calyces, and flowers with beckoning trombone anthers is perfection.
—
New York Times Games, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The fuzzy forest of purple asterisks are the calyces that provide most of the colour.
—New York Times Games, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Each one-inch bloom has a hairy purple calyx with two red petals, resembling the face and ears of a bat.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025
Over time leaves gracefully cascade down with bright red flowers emerging from dark maroon calyxes.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
Still, the one that has come to rule them all is the Japanese eggplant, slender and glossy, presented at an upward tilt, a regal baton to be handed off to the next runner, with the green cap of its calyx perched perkily on top.
—Ligaya Mishan Melody Melamed, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2022
Collectively, the sepals are referred to as the calyx.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2022
There are bisque white oversize ceramic flowers by Lisa Conway, which resemble unfurling peonies or the calyx of a trumpet vine while also maintaining a feeling of abstraction.
—New York Times, 30 Apr. 2021
It’s late March, some of them beginning to turn and wilt and fade, heads
Drooping, papery at the tips, desiccated, or completely gone, reduced to calyx.
—Ciaran Carson, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2019
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New York Times Games, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The fuzzy forest of purple asterisks are the calyces that provide most of the colour.
—New York Times Games, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Each one-inch bloom has a hairy purple calyx with two red petals, resembling the face and ears of a bat.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2025
Over time leaves gracefully cascade down with bright red flowers emerging from dark maroon calyxes.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
Still, the one that has come to rule them all is the Japanese eggplant, slender and glossy, presented at an upward tilt, a regal baton to be handed off to the next runner, with the green cap of its calyx perched perkily on top.
—Ligaya Mishan Melody Melamed, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2022
Collectively, the sepals are referred to as the calyx.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2022
There are bisque white oversize ceramic flowers by Lisa Conway, which resemble unfurling peonies or the calyx of a trumpet vine while also maintaining a feeling of abstraction.
—New York Times, 30 Apr. 2021
It’s late March, some of them beginning to turn and wilt and fade, heads
Drooping, papery at the tips, desiccated, or completely gone, reduced to calyx.
—Ciaran Carson, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Calyx.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calyx. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calyx
noun
ca·lyx
ˈkā-liks
also ˈkal-iks
plural calyxes or calyces
ˈkā-lə-ˌsēz
also ˈkal-ə-
: the usually green or leafy outside part of a flower consisting of sepals
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