zinnia

noun

zin·​nia ˈzi-nē-ə How to pronounce zinnia (audio) ˈzē- How to pronounce zinnia (audio)
ˈzi-nyə,
ˈzē- How to pronounce zinnia (audio)
: any of a genus (Zinnia) of tropical American composite herbs and low shrubs that have showy flower heads with long-lasting ray flowers

Examples of zinnia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Basil and bok choy, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash, marigolds and zinnias are all coming along. Page Leggett, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 Some of the showiest summer blooms fade away when fall arrives, including pompon dahlias, Shasta daisies, African daisies, zinnias, coreopsis, and calendulas. Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2023 Set The Tone Here's an assortment of simple vessels in soft and muted tones, with pops of vibrant color from dahlias and zinnias to create the drama. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2023 This five-acre farm also grows dahlias, zinnias, and tulips and offers a variety of lavender products. Karen Ruffini, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2023 Her recommendations include zinnias (especially Benary’s Giant Mix and Oklahoma), sunflowers (especially the ProCut series), and cockscomb or crested celosia. Arricca Elin Sansone, ELLE Decor, 22 Aug. 2023 The centerpieces featured a beautiful, garden-style floral arrangement that consisted of a mix of dahlia, red zinnia, white cosmo, pink coneflower, pink zinnia, dark pink zinnia, white coneflower, yellow zinnia, orange zinnia, blue horizon, pink cosmo and wine zinnia — all grown at Sarah’s home. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2023 The video then cuts to show the massive collections of cosmos, chocolate sunflowers, and zinnias grown on the farm and arranged by Stefani into brilliant bouquets. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 26 July 2023 Flowers like zinnias, begonias, and sunflowers are also annuals. Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 2 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zinnia.' 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 Johann G. Zinn †1759 German botanist

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zinnia was in 1761

Dictionary Entries Near zinnia

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

zinnia

noun
zin·​nia ˈzin-ē-ə How to pronounce zinnia (audio) ˈzin-yə How to pronounce zinnia (audio)
ˈzēn-
: any of a genus of tropical American composite herbs having long-lasting flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on zinnia

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