petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpe-tᵊl 

: one of the modified often brightly colored leaves of the corolla of a flower see flower illustration

petaled adjective

or petalled

ˈpe-tᵊld 

petallike

ˈpe-tᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

adjective

Examples of petal in a Sentence

flowers with pink and white petals

Recent Examples on the Web

Rose petals covered the carpet below the family of three, who wore festive pajamas for the holiday. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Rose water—usually made by steeping rose petals in water—is a popular natural remedy, perhaps most notably for skin health. —William Truswell, Verywell Health, 26 Dec. 2024

In Hampton this summer, Tucker tossed pink and yellow petals into the Chesapeake Bay to honor African ancestors brought to Virginia centuries ago. —Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024

But the colored leaves aren't actually petals of a flower but leaf bracts. —Lauren David, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing petal

• banner petal
• standard petal

Kids Definition

petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpet-ᵊl 

: one of the often brightly colored modified leaves that make up the corolla of a flower

petaled adjective

or petalled

-ᵊld 

petallike

-ᵊl-ˌ(l)īk 

adjective