poinciana

[ poin-see-an-uh ]

noun

any of several other tropical trees of the legume family, with showy flowers, as Caesalpina pulcherrima(dwarf poinciana ) or Peltophorum pterocarpum(yellow poinciana ).
royal poinciana.

Origin of poinciana

First recorded in 1725–35; from New Latin; named after M. de Poinci, 17th-century governor of the French Antilles; see -an, -a²

Words Nearby poinciana

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poinciana in a sentence

By the day it'd be twelve dollars and up for two at the Breakers, and fourteen dollars and up at the poinciana.
Gullible's Travels, Etc. | Ring W. Lardner
At nine o'clock next mornin' the good ship Constitution stopped at the poinciana dock w'ile we piled aboard.
Gullible's Travels, Etc. | Ring W. Lardner
The pulp of the pods of the Carob tree is eatable; but that of poinciana is said to be injurious.
Botany for Ladies | Jane Loudon
In Nicaragua, malinche is also the name of a tree, a species of poinciana, which bears a handsome red flower.
The Gegence; A Comedy Ballet in the Nahuatl-Spanish Dialect of Nicaragua | Daniel G. Brinton
It isn't quite as large as the Royal poinciana, but dad says it is just as good.
Nan Sherwood at Palm Beach | Annie Roe Carr

British Dictionary definitions for poinciana

poinciana

/ (ˌpɔɪnsɪˈɑːnə) /

noun

any tree of the tropical leguminous genera Caesalpinia (formerly Poinciana) having large orange or red flowers: See royal poinciana

Origin of poinciana

C17: New Latin, named after M. de Poinci, 17th-century governor of the French Antilles

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

Browse