begonia

American  

[bih-gohn-yuh, -goh-nee-uh] / bɪˈgoʊn yə, -ˈgoʊ ni ə /

noun

1. any tropical plant belonging to the genus Begonia, including species cultivated for the handsome, succulent leaves and waxy flowers.

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begonia British  

/ bɪˈɡəʊnjə /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Begonia , of warm and tropical regions, widely cultivated for their ornamental leaves and waxy flowers: family Begoniaceae

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Etymology

Origin of begonia

< New Latin (Linnaeus), named after Michel Bégon (1638–1710), French patron of science; see -ia

Example Sentences

One entry describes begonia as “a deep pink that is bluer, lighter, and stronger than average coral . . . and bluer and stronger than sweet william—called also gaiety.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

For the first round, I decided to take three plants: a small monstera, a polka dot begonia and a white butterfly arrowhead.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 25, 2022

As if he cannot get enough of begonias, Miller also volunteers every week at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, which houses North America’s largest begonia collection.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 14, 2021

New Guinea also has many rare rhododendrons and begonia that have never been described before.

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2020

I gently run my fingers along the ridges of the begonia leaf as Mom calls the number Eddie gave me.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy