Definition of geranium
1 : any of a widely distributed genus (Geranium of the family Geraniaceae, the geranium family) of plants having regular usually white, pink, or purple flowers with elongated styles and glands that alternate with the petals —called also cranesbill
2 : pelargonium
3 : a vivid or strong red
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of geranium from the Web
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Backing that rig into the twisting driveway of some starter castle in Aspen, Colo., or Greenwich, Conn., without getting stuck or crushing the new owners’ geraniums.
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The forest floor was alive with bursts of wildflowers: purple wild geraniums and violet shooting stars and red trilliums.
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Milt and Gail Hess, Wisconsin transplants, opened the nursery in 1983 and grow geraniums, honeysuckles and other flowering plants and shrubs for both retail and wholesale customers.
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The group ate around a table in a sunny, windowed porch bursting with geraniums.
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Pelargonium ‘Mabel Grey’, the most fragrant of all scented geraniums; • Calycanthus raulstonii ‘
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'geranium'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of geranium
New Latin, from Latin, geranium, from Greek geranion, from diminutive of geranos crane — more at crane
First Known Use: 1548
GERANIUM Defined for English Language Learners
geranium
playDefinition of geranium for English Language Learners
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: a plant that is grown for its red, white, pink, or purple flowers
GERANIUM Defined for Kids
geranium
playDefinition of geranium for Students
: a plant often grown for its bright flowers
History for geranium
Many of the plants of the geranium family have long, thin, pointed fruits that look a bit like the bill of a bird. The ancient Greeks thought that the fruit of the wild geranium looked like the bill of a crane, and so gave the plant the name geranion, literally, “little crane.” The English word geranium came from this Greek name.
Learn More about geranium
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See words that rhyme with geranium Spanish Central: Translation of geranium Nglish: Translation of geranium for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about geranium
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