poinsettia Hear it!

poinsettia Definition

☆ poin·set·tia (po̵in set′ə, -set′ē ə)

noun

a Mexican and Central American plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) of the spurge family, with yellow flowers surrounded by tapering red leaves resembling petals

Etymology: ModL, after Joel R. Poinsett (1779-1851), U.S. ambassador to Mexico

poinsettia Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • plant: Did you know they are the second in popularity only to the poinsettia plants?
poinsettia Quotes

And onwards, as bells off San Salvador Salute the crocus lustres of the stars, In these poinsettia meadows of her tides.

—Crane, (Harold) Hart