lantana

[ lan-tan-uh ]

/ lænˈtæn ə /

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noun

any of numerous chiefly tropical plants belonging to the genus Lantana, of the verbena family, certain species of which, as L. camara, are cultivated for their aromatic flowers of yellow and orange or blue and violet.

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Origin of lantana

1785–95; <New Latin <dialectal Italian lantana wayfaring tree

Words nearby lantana

Lansdale, Lansdowne, Lansing, Lansker line, lansquenet, lantana, lantern, lantern clock, lanternfish, lanternfly, lantern gear

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

How to use lantana in a sentence

This resembles our native V. Lantana, with dense clusters of white blossoms succeeded by black berries.
Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs|A. D. Webster
The whole slope, for half a mile, was covered with a dense scrub of Lantana bushes.
Concerning Animals and Other Matters|E.H. Aitken, (AKA Edward Hamilton)
The train stops by the lake and we gather wild Lantana and many a new flower during the few minutes' stay.
Under the Southern Cross|Elizabeth Robins
In creepers, bignonia and lantana will hold their own under difficulties perhaps as well as any that can be found.
Three Elephant Power|Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson

In the other native species, V. Lantana, they are at first red, ultimately black.
Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens|Ernest Thomas Cook

British Dictionary definitions for lantana

lantana

/ (lænˈteɪnə, -ˈtɑː-) /

noun

any verbenaceous shrub or herbaceous plant of the tropical American genus Lantana, esp L. camara, having spikes or umbels of yellow or orange flowers. It has been widely introduced and is regarded as a troublesome weed in some places

Word Origin for lantana

C18: New Latin, from Italian dialect lantana wayfaring tree

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