poinsettia

[ poin-set-ee-uh, -set-uh ]

/ pɔɪnˈsɛt i ə, -ˈsɛt ə /

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noun

a plant, Euphorbia (Poinsettia) pulcherrima, of the spurge family, native to Mexico and Central America, having variously lobed leaves and brilliant scarlet, pink, or white petallike bracts.

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Origin of poinsettia

1830–40; <New Latin, named after J. R. Poinsett (1799–1851), American minister to Mexico, who discovered the plant there in 1828; see -ia

Words nearby poinsettia

poimenics, Poincaré, Poincaré conjecture, poinciana, poind, poinsettia, point, point after, point-and-click, point-and-shoot, point attractor

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

How to use poinsettia in a sentence

However, things went sour quickly at her Poinsettia Place apartment.
Mother of Los Angeles’ Alleged Arsonist Had a Wild Life|Christine Pelisek|January 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In October 2010, she moved into a $1,195 per month one-bedroom apartment on Poinsettia Place in Hollywood.
Mother of Los Angeles’ Alleged Arsonist Had a Wild Life|Christine Pelisek|January 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It is used with pineapple and cherries in the preparation of poinsettia salad, which is illustrated in Fig. 11.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Poinsettia pulcherrima is also worthy of particular attention as a noble ornamental flower at this season.
In-Door Gardening for Every Week in the Year|William Keane

Each little garden flames with red poinsettia, purple convolvulus, and yellow daisies.
Through the Malay Archipelago|Emily Richings
While a bright red is extremely lovely, a black poinsettia is equally effective.
Make Your Own Hats|Gene Allen Martin
The petals of this blossom are also pasted to a lining, the poinsettia making a beautiful ornament.
Make Your Own Hats|Gene Allen Martin

British Dictionary definitions for poinsettia

poinsettia

/ (pɔɪnˈsɛtɪə) /

noun

a euphorbiaceous shrub, Euphorbia (or Poinsettia) pulcherrima, of Mexico and Central America, widely cultivated for its showy scarlet bracts, which resemble petals

Word Origin for poinsettia

C19: New Latin, from the name of J. P. Poinsett (1799–1851), US Minister to Mexico, who introduced it to the US

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