dahlia

noun

dahl·​ia ˈdal-yə How to pronounce dahlia (audio) ˈdäl- How to pronounce dahlia (audio)
 US also and British usually  ˈdāl-
: any of a genus (Dahlia) of American tuberous-rooted composite herbs having opposite pinnate leaves and rayed flower heads and including many that are cultivated as ornamentals

Examples of dahlia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web All of this is set against the stone-silent beauty of Hedwig’s backyard garden, an Eden blooming with phlox, dahlia and roses. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 The chuppah was decorated with red and pink dahlias, as per the color scheme. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2023 Pick up bouquets of fresh-cut dahlias and order your favorites in tuber form for spring delivery. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Duff wore a dark suit, white shirt and pink tie with a flower in his lapel that matched his mom's bouquet, which held white dahlias, garden roses and freesias. Kaitlin Stevens, Peoplemag, 10 Dec. 2023 Go for black roses, pansies, tulips, calla lilies, bat flowers, black mondo grass, burgundy peonies, dark purple dahlias, black hollyhocks, and purple smoke bush. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2024 On weekends, there are parties in their walled garden, with its wading pool and beds of dahlias and roses, or excursions to their nearby lake house. Giles Harvey, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2023 Selecting anything from dahlias to tulips to roses, a jewel-tone bouquet is meant to embrace a bold color palette, embodying your favorite gems like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2023 Flowers included tones of pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows and included some of the bride’s favorites—like roses, dahlias, fire lilies, and Dianthus Hollandia. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dahlia.' 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, genus name, from Anders Dahl †1789 Swedish botanist

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dahlia was in 1835

Dictionary Entries Near dahlia

Cite this Entry

“Dahlia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dahlia. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dahlia

noun
dahl·​ia ˈdal-yə How to pronounce dahlia (audio) ˈdäl- How to pronounce dahlia (audio)
: any of a genus of American herbs related to the daisies and having brightly colored flower heads and a root that is a tuber

More from Merriam-Webster on dahlia

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