geranium

noun ge·ra·ni·um \ jə-ˈrā-nē-əm , -nyəm \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

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

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Recent Examples of geranium from the Web

These fragrant geranium cousins come in pink and white, but their scented, colored leaves are as attractive as the blooms.

— jeanette marantos, latimes.com, "These Easter blooms do double duty in the garden," 30 Mar. 2018
The ice cream also has a dedicated following thanks to the brand’s creative flavors (hello, ricotta toast with red Berry geranium jam).

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream now available in Publix," 27 Mar. 2018
This year's offerings include: $20 baskets of eight geraniums, $20 hanging baskets, $12 flats, $20 12-inch flowering pots and $25 14-inch flowering pots.

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Parma Council of PTAs' 66th annual geranium sale blossoms again as scholarship fundraiser," 28 Apr. 2017
The dull, dirty streets become washed and scrubbed, planters with blooming geraniums are in front of every store.

— mary morris, The Atlantic, "Fiction: Mama’s Haven," 11 Mar. 2018
Also known as the Memorial Gardens, the flowerbeds at Buckingham are laid out in a semi-circular design and include such as exotic plants as scarlet geraniums, spider plants, and weeping figs.

— chanel vargas, Town & Country, "Inside Queen Elizabeth's Home at Buckingham Palace," 24 Jan. 2018
Bodha’s floral mist, meanwhile, is a different fast track to calm, mingling geranium, lavender, and California sage.

— laura regensdorf, Vogue, "Naughty or Nice? 20 Chic Beauty Gifts for the Good and Playfully Bad on Your List," 12 Dec. 2017
Turner suggests geraniums, Arabian jasmine, eucalyptus, gardenias, corsage orchids, and Cuban oregano.

— lauren smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Make Your House Smell Good Instantly," 19 Dec. 2017
At Bures-sur-Yvette, as darkness begins to lift, potted geraniums cram windowsills and the 19th-century villas boast turrets.

— The Economist, "Take the B trainA day crossing Paris by train," 16 Dec. 2017

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

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First Known Use: 1548

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GERANIUM Defined for English Language Learners

geranium

noun

Definition of geranium for English Language Learners

: a plant that is grown for its red, white, pink, or purple flowers

GERANIUM Defined for Kids

geranium

noun ge·ra·ni·um \ jə-ˈrā-nē-əm \

Definition 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.

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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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geranium

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geranium

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