carnation

(kär nās̸hən)

noun

    1. a popular garden and greenhouse plant (Dianthus caryophyllus) of the pink family, usually with white, pink, or red double flowers that smell like cloves
    2. the flower of this plant
  1. a flesh-colored tint formerly used in painting
  2. moderate to deep red

Origin: MFr < L caro, flesh (see carnal), after OFr incarnation, incarnation; sense infl. by OIt carnagione, flesh-colored < carnaggio

See carnation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. Any of numerous cultivated forms of a perennial plant (Dianthus caryophyllus) having showy, variously colored, usually double, often fragrant flowers with fringed petals.
    b. A flower of this plant. Also called clove pink.
  2. A pinkish tint once used in painting.

Origin:

Origin: From obsolete French, flesh-colored

Origin: , from Old French (from Old Italian carnagione, skin, complexion, from carne, flesh)

Origin: or from Late Latin carnātiō, carnātiōn-, flesh

Origin: , both from Latin carō, carn-; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about carnation

carnation

link/cite print suggestion box