caryophyllaceous

American

[kar-ee-oh-fuh-ley-shuhs] / ˌkær i oʊ fəˈleɪ ʃəs /

adjective

belonging to the Caryophyllaceae, the pink family of plants.

caryophyllaceous British

/ ˌkærɪəʊfɪˈleɪʃəs /

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Caryophyllaceae, a family of flowering plants including the pink, carnation, sweet william, and chickweed

"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 caryophyllaceous

1825–35; < New Latin Caryophyllace ( ae ) the family ( Caryophyll ( us ) a genus < Greek karyóphyllon clove tree ( caryo-, -phyll ) + -aceae ) + -ous

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.

Lychnis.—Brilliant erect-growing caryophyllaceous plants, thriving best in beds of peat earth or of deep sandy loam.

From Project Gutenberg

Flow′ery, full of, or adorned with, flowers: highly embellished, florid.—Flower of Jove, a caryophyllaceous plant, with heads of purple or scarlet flowers, and leaves silky-white with hairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Corsica is said to be famous for its orchids, verbenas, and cotyledinous and caryophyllaceous plants; but I only speak of what I saw, and these were out of season.

From Project Gutenberg

Silene.—Pretty caryophyllaceous plants, preferring sandy loam, and well adapted for rockwork.

From Project Gutenberg

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