petal

1 of 2

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
ˈpe-tᵊld How to pronounce petal (audio)
petallike
ˈpe-tᵊl-ˌ(l)īk How to pronounce petal (audio)
adjective

petaled

2 of 2

adjective

pet·​aled
variants or petalled
¦petᵊld How to pronounce petaled (audio)
-etᵊld
1
: having petals
—often used in combination
crimson-petaled
2
: resembling a petal especially in shape

Examples of petal in a Sentence

Noun 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.
Noun
Now the players were clumps of broken petals on grass. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026 Start by rinsing fresh, untreated rose petals in a colander. — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026 Its white flowers bloom in the spring, are self-pollinating, and have four to five white petals each. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 Remove the petals from the male flower and then rub center of the male flower against the center of the female flower. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for petal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1712, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petal was in 1712

Phrases Containing petal

Rhymes for petal

See All Rhymes for petal

Browse Nearby Words

Pétain
petal
petala
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Petal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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
-ᵊld How to pronounce petal (audio)
petallike
-ᵊl-ˌ(l)īk How to pronounce petal (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on petal

Nglish: Translation of petal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about petal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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