Protea Definition

prōtē-ə
noun
Any of a genus (Protea) of mostly tropical, evergreen shrubs and small trees of the protea family, with very large, colorful flowers resembling sunflowers.
Webster's New World
pronoun

A taxonomic genus within the family Proteaceae "” the proteas or sugarbushes, native to South Africa, extremely diverse in form.

Wiktionary
adjective
Designating a family (Proteaceae, order Proteales) of ornamental, dicotyledonous trees, shrubs, and plants, including banksia.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Protea

Noun

Singular:
protea
Plural:
proteas

Origin of Protea

  • New Latin Prōtea genus name from Latin Prōteus the shape-shifting god Proteus (in reference to the great variation in floral shape and color shown by species of the genus) Proteus

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Ancient Greek Πρωτεύς (Prōteus), the Greek warden of sea beasts, renowned for his ability to change shape. Named by Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778)

    From Wiktionary

  • Named after Proteus, the Greek warden of sea beasts, renowned for his ability to change shape.

    From Wiktionary

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