magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus (Magnolia of the family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of American and Asian shrubs and trees with entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers usually appearing in early spring

Illustration of magnolia

Examples of magnolia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The base of musk, magnolia, and mace (a delicate note reminiscent of nutmeg) add a compulsively sniffable layer of warmth. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024

All plants that bloom in the spring, from dogwoods and azaleas, to tulip magnolias, forsythia, redbuds, and flowering quince have their flower buds set now, or are finishing up setting them. —Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 13 Oct. 2024

In fact, for magnolia trees like the southern magnolia, be sure to plant it at least 20 feet away from your house. —Nina Malkin, Architectural Digest, 23 Sep. 2024

When most of us think about adding flowers to the garden, our minds naturally go to spring — the peonies, the tulips, the magnolias, and such. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus of North American and Asian trees or tall shrubs having usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers that appear before or sometimes with the leaves in the spring

Medical Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of North American and Asian shrubs and trees including some whose bark has been used especially as a bitter tonic and diaphoretic in folk medicine

2

a

: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia

b

: the dried bark of a magnolia