petal

[pet-l]

See more synonyms for petal on Thesaurus.com

noun

one of the often colored segments of the corolla of a flower.

Origin of petal

1695–1705; < New Latin petalum petal, Latin: metal plate < Greek pétalon a thin plate, leaf, noun use of neuter of pétalos spread out, akin to petannýnai to be open, Latin patēre to stand open (see patent)

Related formspet·al·age, nounpet·aled, pet·alled, adjectivepet·al·less, adjectivepet·al·like, adjectiveun·pet·aled, adjectiveun·pet·alled, adjective

Can be confusedpedal peddle petal

-petal

a combining form meaning “seeking, moving toward” that specified by the initial element, used in the formation of compound words: acropetal.

Origin of -petal

< New Latin -pet(us) seeking, derivative of Latin petere to seek + -al¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for petal

needle, stalk, frond, petal, scale, blade, leaflet, flag, pad, bract, stipule, petiole, husk, leaf, sepal, foliole

Examples from the Web for petal

Contemporary Examples of petal

The shopper bags continued the petal effect, made perhaps from extra material from a wedding dress covered in rosettes.
Marni's Sophisticated Spring/ Summer 2014 Collection
Liza Foreman
September 22, 2013
He only brushed a flower so lightly with his fingertips that he did not disturb as much as a petal.
The Sept. 11 Survivor Tree in Bloom
Michael Daly
March 24, 2012
He lived in the small town of Petal, Mississippi, across the river from Hattiesburg.
Don't Buy Haley Barbour's Myth
Harold Evans
December 20, 2010

Historical Examples of petal

The fingers that held the petal tingled, and a flush rose in her cheek.
Viviette
William J. Locke
A petal fell off; and the taxi driver, brushing past her, ground it into the rug.
Sacrifice
Stephen French Whitman
"The petal of a plum blossom," he said compassionately, in his own tongue.
The Spinner's Book of Fiction
Various
He saw the sunshine of Eden glint on every leaf and beam in every petal.
Gov. Bob. Taylor's Tales
Robert L. Taylor
As petal after petal floats down to earth she becomes artistic.
Modern Women and What is Said of Them
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for petal

petal

noun

any of the separate parts of the corolla of a flower: often brightly coloured

Derived Formspetaline, adjectivepetal-like, adjectivepetalled, adjective

Word Origin for petal

C18: from New Latin petalum, from Greek petalon leaf; related to petannunai to lie open

-petal

adj combining form

seekingcentripetal

Word Origin for -petal

from New Latin -petus, from Latin petere to seek

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

Word Origin and History for petal

1726 (earlier petala, 1704), from Modern Latin petalum "petal" (17c.), from Greek petalon "a leaf; leaf of metal, thin plate," noun use of neuter of adj. petalos "outspread, broad, flat," from PIE root *pete- "to spread out" (see pace (n.)). Related: Petaline.

petal in Medicine

-petal

suff.

Moving toward:basipetal.

petal in Science

petal

[pĕt′l]

One of the often brightly colored parts of a flower surrounding the reproductive organs. Petals are attached to the receptacle underneath the carpels and stamens and may be separate or joined at their bases. As a group, the petals are called the corolla. See more at flower.