poinsettia
[ poin-set-ee-uh, -set-uh ]
/ pɔɪnˈsɛt i ə, -ˈsɛt ə /
noun
a plant, Euphorbia (Poinsettia) pulcherrima, of the spurge family, native to Mexico and Central America, having variously lobed leaves and brilliant scarlet, pink, or white petallike bracts.
Origin of poinsettia
1830–40; < New Latin, named after J. R.
Poinsett (1799–1851), American minister to Mexico, who discovered the plant there in 1828; see
-ia
Words nearby poinsettia
poimenics,
poincaré,
poincaré conjecture,
poinciana,
poind,
poinsettia,
point,
point a,
point after,
point angle,
point attractor
Example sentences from the Web for poinsettia
British Dictionary definitions for poinsettia
poinsettia
/ (pɔɪnˈsɛtɪə) /
noun
a euphorbiaceous shrub, Euphorbia (or Poinsettia) pulcherrima, of Mexico and Central America, widely cultivated for its showy scarlet bracts, which resemble petals
Word Origin for poinsettia
C19: New Latin, from the name of J. P.
Poinsett (1799–1851), US Minister to Mexico, who introduced it to the US