magnolia

¹ American  

[mag-nohl-yuh, -noh-lee-uh] / mægˈnoʊl yə, -ˈnoʊ li ə /

noun

1. any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia, having large, usually fragrant flowers and an aromatic bark, much cultivated for ornament.

2. the blossom of any such shrub or tree, as of the evergreen magnolia tree: the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi.

---

Magnolia ² American  

[mag-nohl-yuh, -noh-lee-uh] / mægˈnoʊl yə, -ˈnoʊ li ə /

noun

1. a city in SW Arkansas.

---

magnolia British  

/ mæɡˈnəʊlɪə /

noun

1. any tree or shrub of the magnoliaceous genus Magnolia of Asia and North America: cultivated for their white, pink, purple, or yellow showy flowers

2. the flower of any of these plants

3. a very pale pinkish-white or purplish-white colour

---

Etymology

Origin of magnolia

< New Latin (Linnaeus), after Pierre Magnol (1638–1715), French botanist; -ia

Example Sentences

We had a massive magnolia tree in the front yard.

From The Wall Street Journal

I smiled and nodded, feeling more magnificent than one of their Mississippi magnolia blossoms.

From Literature

Great British Chefs specified that tonka’s “most distinctive feature” is their “enormous potency — heady vanilla flavours, with oily clove aromas, and perfumed magnolia, sandalwood notes.”

From Salon

English oaks are losing leaves on the canopy and producing deadwood, he says, and Norway Maple and magnolias are showing signs of stress.

From BBC

It was the magnolia in the backyard she loved.

From Los Angeles Times