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banksia

American

[bangk-see-uh] / ˈbæŋk si ə /

noun

any Australian shrub or tree of the genus Banksia, having alternate leaves and dense, cylindrical flower heads.

banksia British

/ ˈbæŋksɪə /

noun

any shrub or tree of the Australian genus Banksia , having long leathery evergreen leaves and dense cylindrical heads of flowers that are often red or yellowish: family Proteaceae See also honeysuckle

"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 banksia

1782; < New Latin; named after Sir Joseph Banks; see -ia

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.

See Examples For:

banksia

Her eyes light up as she enthuses about the banksia species from her native Australia.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2025

While the pincushion Protea flower was recognizable from grocery story bouquets, other examples, such as the furry, pinkish teddy bear banksia, seemed straight out of science fiction.

From Washington Post ● May 26, 2022

With its cargo of humans reaching arms and legs toward the sunset, it was reminiscent of the needlelike petals of the banksia flowers.

From Washington Post ● May 26, 2022

Then there’s the large “Muppet-mouth”-shaped cones of the banksia trees, so thick that they look like a herd of hedgehogs hugging the branches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2021

Beyond it the country appeared open and good, consisting of what is termed forest land with casuarinae and banksia growing upon it.

From Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 2 by Mitchell, Thomas

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