petal
noun
one of the often colored segments of the corolla of a flower.
petal
1 American
[pet-l]
/ ˈpɛt l /
noun
-
petals
plural
-petal
2
American
petal
1
British
/ ˈpɛtəl /
noun
-petal
2
British
combining form
petal
Scientific
/ 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
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
petalagenoun
-
petal-likeadjective
-
petaledadjective
-
petalineadjective
-
petalledadjective
-
petallessadjective
-
petallikeadjective
-
unpetaledadjective
-
unpetalledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of petal1
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)
Origin of -petal2
< New Latin -pet ( us ) seeking, derivative of Latin petere to seek + -al 1
Explanation
A petal is a part of a flower. Most flowers have a ring of brightly colored petals surrounding the center part of the blossom. Petal comes from the Greek word petalon, meaning "leaf, thin plate." A petal is the lovely colorful leaf-like ring around the center of the flower, a thin plate for a fairy. The petals make up a flower’s corolla, surrounding the center. You can rip them off one by one as you say, “She loves me, she loves me not” until the last petal is picked. She loves me!
Vocabulary lists containing petal
Commonly Confused Words, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Commonly Confused Words, List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"Each piece of fabric, each petal, is made from different material. It was top-stitched to give the impression of veining," she said.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
Remarkably, when the researchers removed chromatin loops, progenitor cells swiftly converted round nuclear shapes into flower petal arrangements like those found in neutrophils.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 14, 2024
Adam Fournier, their bar director, describes their spirit-free rose champagne, containing rose petal, Sakura white tea, verjus rouge and "a smattering of other small components we force carbonate."
From Salon ● Dec. 31, 2023
One petal became four, and then it became a mess.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2023
It is astonishing how untroubled she looks, in her white robe with her eyes sweetly shut, the rose petal still balanced on her nose.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
Smith makes treats like Skittles, gummy bears and pasta festooned with marigold petals, narrating each step in a baby-soft voice while wearing dreamy fits.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
They engineered carefully controlled porous materials that imitate the way natural foams scatter light while also drawing inspiration from water-repellent surfaces found on leaves and flower petals.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
After the flower is sufficiently “crispy,” she sits at an L-shaped desk overlooking her makeshift garden and coats individual petals with resin up to six times, curing them under a UV light between coats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The couple, who won the first series of the spin-off edition in 2024, announced on Instagram, external they were "just married" alongside a photo of them kissing while flower petals floated around them.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Each time she removed the glass hood, it hissed and flared, ready to spit its poison at her, and refused to part with the precious and valuable nectar inside its petals.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
