Illustration of poinsettia
poinsettia
noun
poin·set·tia
pȯin-ˈse-tē-ə 
nonstandard pȯint-,
nonstandard
-ˈse-tə
: any of several spurges (genus Euphorbia) with flower clusters subtended by showy involucral bracts
especially
: a showy Mexican and Central American plant (E. pulcherrima) with tapering usually scarlet bracts that suggest petals and surround small yellow flowers
Examples of poinsettia in a Sentence
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The poinsettia is not simply a plant associated with Christmas.
—
Norman Ellstrand and Nathan Ellstrand / Made By History, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024
Honoring the successes of the citizens is just as much a focal point at the annual Christmas open house as the poinsettias, the proceeds from which go toward funding scholarships and operations for the following year.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024
Use leaves to shape poinsettias: To shape the leaves into poinsettias, pipe small mounds of frosting on top of cake or cupcakes to serve as bases for the poinsettias.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
Ecke started growing and selling his poinsettias in a field on Sunset Boulevard but moved to Encinitas around 1923, where Ecke Ranch became the largest poinsettia producer in the world.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
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Norman Ellstrand and Nathan Ellstrand / Made By History, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024
Honoring the successes of the citizens is just as much a focal point at the annual Christmas open house as the poinsettias, the proceeds from which go toward funding scholarships and operations for the following year.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024
Use leaves to shape poinsettias: To shape the leaves into poinsettias, pipe small mounds of frosting on top of cake or cupcakes to serve as bases for the poinsettias.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024
Ecke started growing and selling his poinsettias in a field on Sunset Boulevard but moved to Encinitas around 1923, where Ecke Ranch became the largest poinsettia producer in the world.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
Cite this Entry
“Poinsettia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poinsettia. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poinsettia
noun
poin·set·tia
pȯin-ˈset-ē-ə
-ˈset-ə
-ˈset-ə
: a showy Mexican and Central American plant with large scarlet bracts that grow like petals about its small yellow flowers
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