chrysanthemum

noun

chry·​san·​the·​mum kri-ˈsan(t)-thə-məm 

 also  -ˈzan(t)-

1

: any of various composite plants (genus Chrysanthemum) including weeds, ornamentals grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of medicinals and insecticides

2

: a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum

Illustration of chrysanthemum

• chrysanthemum 2

Examples of chrysanthemum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Specifically, fall asters and Mexican bush salvias should be tip pruned in late May, chrysanthemums in June. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2025

Then, come back and keep scrolling for more decorative Legos, including a realistic orchid build with a near-perfect rating and this chrysanthemum building set that has been purchased more than 50,000 times by shoppers in the past month. —Mia Huelsbeck, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025

On the morning of Feb. 12, two Boeing 767 FedEx cargo planes were parked outside its facility at MIA, just arriving from Colombia and Ecuador with carnations, chrysanthemums and other flowers cut as recently as Feb. 10. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025

Big, bold, colorful flowers were favored for hosting in the 1970s, including chrysanthemums, poppies, daisies, and trumpet flowers. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin chrȳsanthemon, chrȳsanthemum "a yellow-flowered composite plant," borrowed from Greek chrȳsánthemon "any of various plants with bright yellow flowers," from chrȳsós "gold" + ánthemon "blossom, flower" — more at chryso-, anthemion

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

chrysanthemum

noun

chry·​san·​the·​mum kris-ˈan(t)-thə-məm 

1

: any of a genus of plants that are related to the daisies and include weeds, ornamental plants grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of substances used in medicine and as insecticides

2

: a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum