frangipani

noun

fran·​gi·​pa·​ni ˌfran-jə-ˈpa-nē 

-ˈpä-

variants or less commonly frangipanni

plural frangipani also frangipanni

1

: a perfume derived from or imitating the odor of the flower of a frangipani (Plumeria rubra)

2

: any of a genus (Plumeria) of shrubs or small trees of the dogbane family that are native to the American tropics and widely cultivated as ornamentals

Examples of frangipani in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lush and meticulously kept 12-acre property bursts with bougainvillea and frangipani, meeting the impossibly white sand of the island's Platinum Coast. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2024

The middle notes of gardenia and frangipani, offer a rich, floral core and as the scent dries down the patchouli and brown sugar comes alive adding depth and sweetness to the fragrance. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 14 June 2024

Flowering frangipani stand over an Islamic cemetery near its piers, centered around a centuries-old shrine to an Arab pilgrim. —Maahil Mohamed Elke Scholiers, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

While the many seaside villas are surrounded by sculptural frangipani, the Buddhist monasteries inland often sit among banyan trees with great rustling canopies. —Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

modification of Italian frangipane, from Muzio Frangipane, 16th century Italian nobleman

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

frangipani

noun

fran·​gi·​pa·​ni

variants also frangipanni

ˌfran-jə-ˈpan-ē 

-ˈpän-

plural frangipani also frangipanni

: any of several shrubs or small trees that have thick fleshy branches and large fragrant waxy-looking white, yellow, red, or pink flowers and are native to the American tropics but are grown elsewhere for their beauty