dahlia

[ dal-yuh, dahl- or, especially British, deyl- ]

/ ˈdæl yə, ˈdɑl- or, especially British, ˈdeɪl- /

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noun

any composite plant of the genus Dahlia, native to Mexico and Central America and widely cultivated for its showy, variously colored flower heads.

the flower or tuberous root of a dahlia.

a pale violet or amethyst color.

adjective

of the color dahlia.

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Origin of dahlia

1791; <New Latin, named after Anders Dahl (died 1789), Swedish botanist; see -ia

Words nearby dahlia

Dagwood sandwich, dah, dahabeah, Dahl, Dahlgren, dahlia, Dahna, Dahomey, dahoon, daibutsu, daiker

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dahlia in a sentence

When it comes to cold cases, few are hotter than the so-called Black Dahlia.
Can This Dog Solve the Black Dahlia Homicide?|Christine Pelisek|February 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Extreme Makeover Dahlia Lithwick, The New Yorker The story behind Lawrence v. Texas.
The Week’s Best Longreads: The Daily Beast Picks for March 10, 2012|David Sessions|March 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
That was back when he was writing books like The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, and L.A. Confidential.
A Writer's Inner Demons|Allen Barra|September 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
James Ellroy is the best-selling author of The Black Dahlia and L.A. Confidential .
Ellroy's Favorite Crime Reads|James Ellroy|September 21, 2009|DAILY BEAST

There has been a great change of opinion with regard to the Dahlia.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford
They are the most graceful members of the entire Dahlia family, allowing me to be judge.
Amateur Gardencraft|Eben E. Rexford
She liked a bulk of colour; and when the dahlia dawned upon our gardens, she gave her heart to dahlias.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete|George Meredith
Policy and Dahlia's entreaties at last prevailed with the farmer, and so the fair girl went up to the great city.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete|George Meredith
Dahlia and Rhoda taught the children to perceive how they resembled bent old beggar-men.
Rhoda Fleming, Complete|George Meredith

British Dictionary definitions for dahlia

dahlia

/ (ˈdeɪljə) /

noun

any herbaceous perennial plant of the Mexican genus Dahlia, having showy flowers and tuberous roots, esp any horticultural variety derived from D. pinnata : family Asteraceae (composites)

the flower or root of any of these plants

Word Origin for dahlia

C19: named after Anders Dahl, 18th-century Swedish botanist; see -ia

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dahlia

Origin of dahlia

Words nearby dahlia

Words related to dahlia

How to use dahlia in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dahlia

Word Origin for dahlia