petal

¹

[ pet-l ]

noun

1. one of the often colored segments of the corolla of a flower.

-petal

²

1. a combining form meaning “seeking, moving toward” that specified by the initial element, used in the formation of compound words:

   acropetal.

-petal

¹

combining form

1. seeking

   centripetal

petal

²

/ ˈpɛtəl /

noun

1. any of the separate parts of the corolla of a flower: often brightly coloured

petal

/ pĕt′l /

1. One of the often brightly colored parts of a flower surrounding the reproductive organs. Petals are attached to the receptacle underneath the carpels and stamens and may be separate or joined at their bases. As a group, the petals are called the corolla .
2. See more at flower

Derived Forms

• ˈpetaline, adjective
• ˈpetalled, adjective
• ˈpetal-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• petal·age noun
• petaled petalled adjective
• petal·less adjective
• petal·like adjective
• un·petaled adjective
• un·petalled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of petal¹

1695–1705; < New Latin petalum petal, Latin: metal plate < Greek pétalon a thin plate, leaf, noun use of neuter of pétalos spread out, akin to petannýnai to be open, Latin patēre to stand open ( patent )

Origin of petal²

< New Latin -pet ( us ) seeking, derivative of Latin petere to seek + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of petal¹

from New Latin -petus, from Latin petere to seek

Origin of petal²

C18: from New Latin petalum, from Greek petalon leaf; related to petannunai to lie open

Example Sentences

In between the customers, vendors were constantly on the move, expertly moving buckets of flowers from nearby coolers onto the floor or stripping faded petals and leaves from new bunches of flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

A daisy tinged with ultraviolet petals signals to a bumblebee: dinner’s served.

From Salon

The Scottish poppy does not feature a green leaf and has four-lobed petals, while England and Wales's poppy features two.

From BBC

The Scottish poppy has the same recognisable blood red colour, but it has four-lobed petals and no leaf.

From BBC

White edges turn the pulsing shapes into suggestions of natural phenomena — blossoming flower petals and breaking ocean waves — but neither one is realistically described.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• frond
• needle
• petal
• stalk