Petunia

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /pəˈtunjÉ™/

Origin

From New Latin Petunia, from French petun ("(obsolete) the tobacco plant"), from Portuguese petum ("tobacco"), from Paraguayan Guarani pety.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Full definition of petunia

Noun

1. Any of the flowering plants of genus Petunia, of which most garden varieties are hybrids.
• 2002, Larry Hodgson, Annuals for Every Purpose, page 57,Usually petunias are quite pest free, but aphids are occasional problems.
• 2003, Norman Winter, Tough-As-Nails Flowers for the South, page 39,The small purple petunias are produced in profusion and without ceasing during the entire season.
• 2013, Jan Riggenbach, Your Midwest Garden: An Owner's Manual, page 18,Closely related calibrachoas, often called miniature petunias, offer dainty petunia-like blossoms that are perfect for planting in pots.No matter what type of petunias you choose, they all prefer plenty of sun.
2. A dark purple colour, like that of some petunia flowers.

Adjective

1. Of a dark purple colour, like that of some petunia flowers.