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bougainvillea

American  
[boo-guhn-vil-ee-uh, -vil-yuh, boh-] / ˌbu gənˈvɪl i ə, -ˈvɪl jə, ˌboʊ- /

noun

  • bougainvilleas
    plural
  1. any of several shrubs or vines of the genus Bougainvillea, native to South America, having small flowers with showy, variously colored bracts, and often cultivated in warm regions.


bougainvillea British  
/ ˌbuːɡənˈvɪlɪə /

noun

  1. any tropical woody nyctaginaceous widely cultivated climbing plant of the genus Bougainvillea , having inconspicuous flowers surrounded by showy red or purple bracts

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of bougainvillea

1789; < New Latin, named after L. A. de Bougainville

Vocabulary lists containing bougainvillea

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:

In a neighbourhood close to the scene of the attack - where plush villas and foreign embassies sit behind high walls, topped with bougainvillea - the streets lay empty.

From BBC Sep. 10, 2025

But those who really know L.A. can tell you it’s a pleasure to stroll through, replete with blooming bougainvillea, rich history and street vendors and shops.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 6, 2024

The front of the building was covered in a flash of fuchsia bougainvillea, and the surrounding brick towers glowed with inviting warm windows and hints of crystal chandeliers.

From Los Angeles Times May 15, 2024

Vines: Some popular vines that can grow up a wall include plants such as grapes, passion fruit and bougainvillea.

From Seattle Times Aug. 25, 2023

Dr. van Heerden, Dr. Masuku, and Nhamo sat outside the cookhouse in the shade of a bougainvillea vine.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

When Rower mentioned from across the table that his grandparents adored bougainvilleas, he seemed to be floating the idea to see Oudolf’s reaction about whether they would work in Calder Gardens.

From New York Times Sep. 7, 2022

She cares for every herb and weed in the gardens she tends but she has a special place in her heart for the vibrant fuchsia blooms of bougainvilleas — vining shrubs with hidden sharp thorns.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 9, 2022

There’s something invigorating about tackling your to-dos among walls of ferns or billowing bougainvilleas.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 1, 2022

He then sat down with other volunteers in a shaded eating area prettied with multicolored bougainvilleas to fret about if their work even had a place in today’s Catholic Church.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 21, 2021

By the end of the week, Pita got up and hobbled about the courtyard of Hacienda Dorada, clapping and laughing at the girls as they chased mariposas around the wide, robust bougainvilleas.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

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