petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpe-tᵊl How to pronounce petal (audio)
: one of the modified often brightly colored leaves of the corolla of a flower see flower illustration
petaled adjective
or petalled
petallike adjective

Examples of petal in a Sentence

flowers with pink and white petals
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The post kicked off with a picture of Paul down on one knee atop a bed of white rose petals. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025 The strapless look included an allover red motif designed with pieces with a stain glass effect in the shape of red flower petals. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Mar. 2025 Dessert—an apple candied with rose petals, gleaming like a jewel—proved impossible to resist. Sasha Pinto, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 In perfumery, violet petals have traditionally been used to lend a certain type of frilly sweetness to a scent. Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for petal

Word History

Etymology

New Latin petalum, from Greek petalon; akin to Greek petannynai to spread out — more at fathom

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petal was in 1712

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Petal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petal. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

petal

noun
pet·​al ˈpet-ᵊl How to pronounce petal (audio)
: one of the often brightly colored modified leaves that make up the corolla of a flower
petaled adjective
or petalled
petallike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on petal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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