geranium

noun

ge·​ra·​ni·​um jə-ˈrā-nē-əm How to pronounce geranium (audio) -nyəm How to pronounce geranium (audio)
1
: any of a widely distributed genus (Geranium of the family Geraniaceae, the geranium family) of plants having regular usually white, pink, or purple flowers with elongated styles and glands that alternate with the petals

called also cranesbill

2
3
: a vivid or strong red

Examples of geranium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These include citronella, a few other geranium varieties, plus marigolds, lemongrass, catnip, certain types of mint, lavender, and lantana. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024 Advertisement - Continue Reading Below 4 Fourth Anniversary—Geraniums Tender geraniums are more commonly spotted in garden beds or hanging planters, providing a pop of color to yards. Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 29 June 2023 Yes, Bamford’s finest, with heady notes of geranium. Lucy Alexander, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2023 White snapdragon, violet African daisy, red common geranium, and white 'Tidal Wave Silver' petunia are fillers. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 June 2023 In particular, freezing temperatures can be a major threat to succulents, tropical plants, ferns and citrus as well as such cold-tender favorites as begonias and geraniums. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Red geraniums echo the red brick of this house and create a ribbon of color along the porch steps. Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2024 Notes: Turkish rose, Moroccan rose, schinus molle, saffron, geranium, angelica root, ambrette seed, patchouli, amber, vetiver, leather, musk Sizes: 1.7 oz. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2024 Regal types are probably some of the pickiest geraniums. Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'geranium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, geranium, from Greek geranion, from diminutive of geranos crane — more at crane

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of geranium was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near geranium

Cite this Entry

“Geranium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geranium. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

geranium

noun
ge·​ra·​ni·​um jə-ˈrā-nē-əm How to pronounce geranium (audio)
1
: any of a genus of herbs with usually deeply cut leaves and typically white, pink, or purple flowers in which glands alternate with the petals
2
: any of a genus of herbs native to southern Africa with showy flowers of usually red, pink, or white
Etymology

from Latin geranium "geranium," from Greek geranion, literally, "little crane," from geranos "crane"

Word Origin
Many of the plants in the geranium family have long, thin, pointed seedpods or fruits that look like the bills of birds. The ancient Greeks noticed this resemblance. They named the wild geranium geranion, literally meaning "little crane," for the long-legged, long-billed wading bird. English borrowed the Latin form geranium. English also borrowed the idea that the geranium's seedpod looks like a bird's bill. The common English name of the wild geranium is cranesbill.

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