impatiens

American  

[im-pey-shuhnz] / ɪmˈpeɪ ʃənz /

noun

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

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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

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

It is a suburban idyll trimmed by red and white Impatiens, finished inside with dark oak paneling and filled with photographs of the children.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bennett, A.W., on Impatiens fulva. flowers fertilised whilst in the bud state.

From The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species by Darwin, Charles

Between Syung and Myrung, especially about Nungbree, Parnassia recurs, with another species of Epilobium, Xyris, Juncus, the Senecioneœ, etc.; a new Impatiens occurs towards Myrung. 

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William

Observed Sabia in some of the jungles; the only interesting plants gathered were an Impatiens and two or three Acanthaceæ. 

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by Griffith, William