coleus

[ koh-lee-uhs ]

noun,plural co·le·us·es.

any of several tropical Asian or African plants belonging to the genus Coleus, of the mint family, certain species of which are cultivated for their showy, colored foliage and blue flowers.

Origin of coleus

1865–70; <New Latin <Greek koleós, variant of koleón sheath, scabbard; akin to conceal, hull¹

Words Nearby coleus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use coleus in a sentence

Give the coleus about six inches of lee-way, also the Centaurea.
Amateur Gardencraft | Eben E. Rexford
Among foliage plants such things as coleus, dusty miller, begonia, and some geraniums are adaptable.
The Practical Garden-Book | C. E. Hunn
Even iresine (better known as Achyranthes Verschaffeltii) united with coleus and grew for a time.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891 | Various
A coleus cion was placed upon a tomato plant and was simply bound with raffia.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891 | Various
A Canna of rich, dark green would make a fine centre plant for a bed in which red coleus served as a background.
Amateur Gardencraft | Eben E. Rexford

British Dictionary definitions for coleus

coleus

/ (ˈkəʊlɪəs) /

nounplural -uses

any plant of the Old World genus Coleus: cultivated for their variegated leaves, typically marked with red, yellow, or white: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

Origin of coleus

C19: from New Latin, from Greek koleos, variant of koleon sheath; from the way in which the stamens are joined

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

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