impatiens

American  

[im-pey-shuhnz] / ɪmˈpeɪ ʃənz /

noun

• impatiens
  plural

1. any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Impatiens, of the balsam family, having irregular flowers in which the calyx and corolla are not clearly distinguishable and bearing fruit that bursts open to scatter the seeds.

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impatiens British  

/ ɪmˈpeɪʃɪˌɛnz /

noun

1. any balsaminaceous plant of the genus Impatiens, such as balsam, touch-me-not, busy Lizzie, and policeman's helmet

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• impatiens
  plural

Etymology

Origin of impatiens

1880–85; < New Latin, Latin impatiēns not enduring, not tolerating ( see impatient); alluding to the plant's quick release of seeds upon slight contact; compare the familiar name touch-me-not

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

impatiens

The virus, impatiens necrotic spot virus, or INSV, and the disease, Pythium wilt, have both been around for years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 21, 2022

Leafy greens, herbs and some varieties of flowers, like impatiens and begonias, do well in the shade.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2022

Bougainvillea and hibiscus, canna lilies, four o’clocks, impatiens, zinnias.

From The New Yorker ● Jul. 28, 2016

Impatiens are off the list, too, ever since the scourge of impatiens downy mildew started spreading across the land.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 6, 2015

At length, Bono opined, “I don’t believe those impatiens will ever grow near the pine tree. What do you reckon?”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson