petunia
pronunciation
How to pronounce petunia in British English:
UK [pəˈtju:niə]
How to pronounce petunia in American English:
US [pəˈtuniə]
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- Noun:
- any of numerous tropical herbs having fluted funnel-shaped flowers
Word Origin
- petunia
- petunia: see tobacco
- petunia (n.)
- 1825, from Modern Latin Petunia (1789), from French petun (16c.), an obsolete word for "tobacco plant," from Portuguese petum, evidently from Guarani (Paraguay) pety. The petunia has a botanical affinity to the tobacco plant. See tobacco.
Example
- 1. Dudley asked aunt petunia dully late that afternoon .
- 2. When aunt petunia and dudley had run out with their arms over their faces , uncle vernon slammed the door shut .
- 3. Aunt petunia took it curiously and read the first line . For a moment it looked as though she might faint .
- 4. He glanced over his shoulder , but the wall was a sickly peach color of aunt petunia 's choosing : there was nothing blue there for the mirror to reflect .
- 5. There were screams from the dining room and uncle vernon burst into the kitchen to find harry , rigid withshock , covered from head to foot in aunt petunia 's pudding .