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• petal
  petal

  noun

  one of the often colored segments of the corolla of a flower.
• -petal
  -petal

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

petal

¹ American  

[pet-l] / ˈpɛt l /

noun

• petals
  plural

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

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-petal ² American  

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

   acropetal.

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petal ¹ British  

/ ˈpɛtəl /

noun

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

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-petal ² British  

combining form

1. seeking

   centripetal

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petal Scientific  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• petalage
  noun
• petal-like
  adjective
• petaled
  adjective
• petaline
  adjective
• petalled
  adjective
• petalless
  adjective
• petallike
  adjective
• unpetaled
  adjective
• unpetalled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• petals
  plural

Etymology

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 ( see patent)

Origin of -petal²

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

Explanation

A petal is a part of a flower. Most flowers have a ring of brightly colored petals surrounding the center part of the blossom. Petal comes from the Greek word petalon, meaning "leaf, thin plate." A petal is the lovely colorful leaf-like ring around the center of the flower, a thin plate for a fairy. The petals make up a flower’s corolla, surrounding the center. You can rip them off one by one as you say, “She loves me, she loves me not” until the last petal is picked. She loves me!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

petal petals

"Each piece of fabric, each petal, is made from different material. It was top-stitched to give the impression of veining," she said.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

The majority of cells feature round- or oval-shaped nuclei that are rigid, but neutrophils differ in that their nuclei adopt multiple lobular structures akin to that of flower petal arrangements.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 14, 2024

Adam Fournier, their bar director, describes their spirit-free rose champagne, containing rose petal, Sakura white tea, verjus rouge and "a smattering of other small components we force carbonate."

From Salon ● Dec. 31, 2023

One petal became four, and then it became a mess.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2023

A small yellow petal drifted into Nathan’s vision and landed below the mobile home.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

After the flower is sufficiently “crispy,” she sits at an L-shaped desk overlooking her makeshift garden and coats individual petals with resin up to six times, curing them under a UV light between coats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Dozens of Khan supporters gathered near the private hospital, while others flung handfuls of red flower petals at passing cars.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

Relatives of the victims scatter flower petals from a damaged building as the procession passes below.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

Its rambunctious tannins, high acid and contrasting notes of cherry, rose petals and hot summer asphalt worked nicely.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

The trees in this area were thinner and richer in color, their roots carpeted with the delicate pink petals of flowers that looked to have finished their bloom a day or so before.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• frond
• needle
• stalk