peony

American  

[pee-uh-nee] / ˈpi ə ni /

noun

plural

peonies

1. any of various plants or shrubs of the genus Paeonia, having large, showy flowers, as the widely cultivated species P. lactiflora: the state flower of Indiana.

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peony British  

/ ˈpiːənɪ /

noun

1. any of various ranunculaceous shrubs and plants of the genus Paeonia, of Eurasia and North America, having large pink, red, white, or yellow flowers

2. the flower of any of these plants

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Etymology

Origin of peony

before 1000; Middle English < Late Latin peōnia, Latin paeōnia < Greek paiōnía peony, akin to Paiā́n paean; replacing Middle English pione < Anglo-French < Old French peone < Latin; replacing Old English peonie < Late Latin, Latin, as above

Example Sentences

It has a “deep mineral aura” and hints of driftwood and peony.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2023

I’ve witnessed the magic of a peony going from hot pink to pale coral, watched a tulip’s petals double in size and seen a rose clinging to the last glimmers of its fading bloom.

From Washington Post • Mar. 22, 2023

I returned home to find a bed of fading peony petals — and a lesson in humility.

From Washington Post • Feb. 22, 2023

Learn how to have several months of blooms by overlapping peony types, and find out why your peonies stopped blooming or never bloomed.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2022

“But what is Father’s friend saying to make you look like a peony? There’s mischief going on, and I insist upon knowing what it is,” with another rap.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott