Petal Meaning
/ˈpɛtl̩/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounOne of the component parts of the corolla of a flower. It applies particularly, but not necessarily only, when the corolla consists of separate parts, that is when the petals are not connately fused. Petals are often brightly colored.
nounThe labia (majora).
Sentence Examples
Oil on canvas can never paint a petal so delicate.
The working ants love the flowers and take them home, one petal at a time.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Each delicate ____ of the rose fell to the ground when the wind blew strongly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Each ____ of the rose was a deep crimson color that darkened toward the center of the bloom.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *peth₂-der. Proto-Indo-European *pet-der. Proto-Hellenic *pétalos Ancient Greek πέταλον (pétalon)lbor. English petal Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πέταλον (pétalon), from πέταλος (pétalos, “broad, flat”), from Proto-Hellenic *pétalos, from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread out”), whence Latin pandō and Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“embrace”) (English fathom).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Dawn held her breath, fearing he'd notice the slight protrusion where her babe rested beneath her heart, but he barely paused as his mouth found the tiny jewel hidden within the dewy petals of her sex."
— 1999, Connie Mason, chapter 19, in Shadow Walker, Leisure Books, page 362:
"She is freezing cold. Sputtering. Big eyes wide and wet and red. Too shocked even to cry. 'It's okay, petal, it's okay.'"
— 2011, Jo Baker, The Picture Book:
"anger against the men who had burdened her body with a lead shield of detestation for its blood, let loose without her will and its need against which she clenched her knees to her growing breasts, trying to clasp deep away from her hand that new soft wedge of hair, those lips that petaled out to her dreams."
— 1980, Thomas Alan Broughton, Winter Journey, page 133:
"With his forefinger, he curled one of the ringlets that petaled against Malou's forehead."
— 2014, Tory Cates, Different Dreams, page 169:
"In the park adjacent to the library, following a winding path, she saw ahead a fountain surrounded by a reflecting pool, and she walked to it and sat on one of the benches facing the water that flowered up in numerous thin streams, petaling the air with silver droplets."
— 2017, Dean Koontz, The Silent Corner, page 37:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Each delicate ____ of the rose fell to the ground when the wind blew strongly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Each ____ of the rose was a deep crimson color that darkened toward the center of the bloom.