anthurium

American  

[an-thoor-ee-uhm] / ænˈθʊər i əm /

noun

1. any tropical American plant belonging to the genus Anthurium, of the arum family, certain species of which are cultivated for their glossy red heart-shaped bract surrounding a rodlike spike of tiny yellow flowers.

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anthurium British  

/ ænˈθjʊərɪəm /

noun

1. any of various tropical American aroid plants constituting the genus Anthurium, many of which are cultivated as house plants for their showy foliage and their flowers, which are borne in a long-stalked spike surrounded by a flaring heart-shaped white or red bract

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Etymology

Origin of anthurium

1829; < New Latin Anthurium, equivalent to anth- anth- + -urium < Greek our ( á ) tail + New Latin -ium -ium

Example Sentences

Today, at the entrance to the flower shop, a red anthurium plant sits next to a family shrine, which includes a large photograph of Fred and Mituko Yoshimura hanging on the wall.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2023

Each of us also had in our flower bucket a single anthurium painted by Ms. Alpaugh.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2022

Some indoor plants flower in winter, such as bright-red anthurium, sweet-smelling jasmine, durable and cheerful kalanchoe, and amaryllis bulbs.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2022

Exotic species of orchid, anthurium, and bird of paradise are all regularly shipped to the U.S.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2015

The flower she loved the most was the anthurium.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy