petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpe-tᵊl 

: one of the modified often brightly colored leaves of the corolla of a flower see flower illustration

petaled adjective

or petalled

ˈpe-tᵊld 

petallike

ˈpe-tᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

adjective

Examples of petal in a Sentence

flowers with pink and white petals

Recent Examples on the Web

But the colored leaves aren't actually petals of a flower but leaf bracts. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025

The 3-to 4-inch 60-petal count, romantic double blooms are apricot and cream with pink outer petals. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025

Finally, Burning Rose is a smoldering floral blend that grounds rose petals and violet in birch and ebony wood. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 5 Dec. 2025

On a warm April Friday, gaggles of children gather between stark white columns painted with bright blue markings reminiscent of petals, listening in as a tour guide distills the core tenets of ancient Egyptian philosophy. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin petalum, from Greek petalon; akin to Greek petannynai to spread out — more at fathom

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing petal

• banner petal
• standard petal

Rhymes for petal

• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• mettle
• nettle
• setal
• settle
• diacetyl
• gunmetal
• nonmetal
• resettle

Kids Definition

petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpet-ᵊl 

: one of the often brightly colored modified leaves that make up the corolla of a flower

petaled adjective

or petalled

-ᵊld 

petallike

-ᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

adjective