dahlia

noun

dahl·​ia ˈdal-yə  ˈdäl- 

 US also and British usually  ˈdāl-

: any of a genus (Dahlia) of American tuberous-rooted composite herbs having opposite pinnate leaves and rayed flower heads and including many that are cultivated as ornamentals

Examples of dahlia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For larger dahlia varieties, opt for the heaviest-duty cages available. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025

It’s shaped almost like a flattened dahlia, with its charred, golden-brown edges crisp and curling. —Daliah Singer, Denver Post, 5 June 2025

Here, the sunny yellow tablecloth, echoed in the color of the dahlias and some of the plates, serves as the anchor color, with thoughtful touches of pink, blue, and lavender creating depth. —Catherine Hong, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025

If not for these sales pitches for petunias and potting soil, for daisies, dahlias, and designer wheelbarrows, my menu of messages would tend toward the sensibly gray. —Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Anders Dahl †1789 Swedish botanist

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dahlia

noun

dahl·​ia ˈdal-yə  ˈdäl- 

: any of a genus of American herbs related to the daisies and having brightly colored flower heads and a root that is a tuber