petal

1 of 2

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

petaled

2 of 2

adjective

pet·​aled

variants or petalled

¦petᵊld 

-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

Noun

There, the ground was covered in rose petals, and Noah got down on one knee. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Zones 3-9 Oriental Poppy The brightly colored flowers of Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale), with their delicate, papery petals, bloom in mid to late spring, sometimes until early summer. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026

The funfetti tea cake has an appropriately elegant spin—flower petals are the sprinkles. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026

The table was covered in red rose petals, and the couple wore black and white formalwear. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing petal

• banner petal
• standard petal

Rhymes for petal

• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• mettle
• nettle
• setal
• settle
• acetyl
• bimetal
• gunmetal
• nonmetal

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