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poinsettia
(pɔɪnsetiə)
Word forms: plural poinsettias
countable noun
A poinsettia is a plant with groups of bright red or pink leaves that grows in Central and South America. Poinsettias are very popular in Britain and the United States, especially at Christmas.
poinsettia in British English
(pɔɪnˈsɛtɪə)
noun
a euphorbiaceous shrub, Euphorbia (or Poinsettia) pulcherrima, of Mexico and Central America, widely cultivated for its showy scarlet bracts, which resemble petals
Word origin
C19: New Latin, from the name of J. P. Poinsett (1799–1851), US Minister to Mexico, who introduced it to the USpoinsettia in American English
(pɔɪnˈsɛtə; pɔɪnˈsɛtiə)
US
noun
a Mexican and Central American plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) of the spurge family, with yellow flowers surrounded by tapering red leaves resembling petals
Word origin
ModL, after Joel R. Poinsett (1779-1851), U.S. ambassador to MexicoImage ofpoinsettia
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