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petal
[ pet-l ]
/ ËpÉt l /
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noun
one of the often colored segments of the corolla of a flower.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known asâŠ
Origin of petal
1695â1705; <New Latin petalum petal, Latin: metal plate <Greek pĂ©talon a thin plate, leaf, noun use of neuter of pĂ©talos spread out, akin to petannĂœnai to be open, Latin patÄre to stand open (see patent)
OTHER WORDS FROM petal
Words nearby petal
peta-, petabyte, Petach Tikva, petahertz, Pétain, petal, petaliferous, petaline, petalite, petalody, petaloid
Other definitions for petal (2 of 2)
-petal
a combining form meaning âseeking, moving towardâ that specified by the initial element, used in the formation of compound words: acropetal.
Origin of -petal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use petal in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for petal (1 of 2)
petal
/ (ËpÉtÉl) /
noun
any of the separate parts of the corolla of a flower: often brightly coloured
Derived forms of petal
petaline, adjectivepetal-like, adjectivepetalled, adjectiveWord Origin for petal
C18: from New Latin petalum, from Greek petalon leaf; related to petannunai to lie open
British Dictionary definitions for petal (2 of 2)
-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
Scientific definitions for petal
petal
[ pÄtâČl ]
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.
The American HeritageÂź Science Dictionary
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