hibiscus

American

[hahy-bis-kuhs, hi-] / haɪˈbɪs kəs, hɪ- /

noun

PLURAL

hibiscuses

Also called China rose. a woody plant, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, of the mallow family, having large, showy flowers: the state flower of Hawaii.
any of numerous other plants, shrubs, or trees of the genus Hibiscus, characterized by lobate or dentate leaves and usually profusely blooming flowers.

hibiscus British

/ haɪˈbɪskəs /

noun

any plant of the chiefly tropical and subtropical malvaceous genus Hibiscus, esp H. rosa-sinensis, cultivated for its large brightly coloured flowers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hibiscus

1700–10; < New Latin, Latin < Greek hibískos mallow

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Meghan's personality is absolutely not everyone's cup of bespoke herbal hibiscus tea, but she's also incurred a whole lot of wrath simply for being not white and not British.

From Salon

Top it off with hot or hibiscus honey.

From Salon

Currently, I have cherries on my nails but before this, I had yellow French tips with hibiscus flowers for the summer.

From Salon

Their menu is seasonal, but they have this really tasty drink called the hibiscus margarita and they line it with Tajin.

From Los Angeles Times

Mark the location of perennials like butterfly weed and hardy hibiscus that emerge later than most plants in spring.

From Seattle Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023