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
ˈpe-tᵊld How to pronounce petal (audio)
petallike
ˈpe-tᵊl-ˌ(l)īk How to pronounce petal (audio)
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.
One of the more striking cultivars is ‘Greenheart Orange’, which has orange petals radiating out from a lime-green center. — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Aug. 2026 Within the cluster, the individual mushrooms layer with each other similar to how rose petals grow. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026 Women leaned from apartment windows, filming the march on their phones, while others scattered rice and rose petals over the men carrying the coffins. — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 Pay close attention to where leaves meet the stem, the underside of leaves, and within the petals for any movement or tiny specks. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 4 Aug. 2026 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

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 11 Aug. 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

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