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

Overhead watering may cause flowers to droop or spotting on petals; certain species are more subject to disease if watered from above. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026

Black-eyed Susans and sunflowers put on a show Black-eyed Susans are classic sun-loving perennials that come back year after year with their signature golden petals and dark centers. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026

Grab a small basket or tray and fill it with things like tea, a candle, lotion, a favorite snack, a handwritten note or a scattering of flower petals. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Beyond its usefulness, pineapple guava provides fleshy, edible flower petals with a hint of sweetness. —Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for petal

• betel
• cetyl
• kettle
• metal
• mettle
• nettle
• setal
• settle
• diacetyl
• gunmetal
• nonmetal
• resettle

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