any shrub or small tree of the genus Protea, of tropical and southern Africa, having flowers with coloured bracts arranged in showy heads: family Proteaceae
Derived forms
proteaceous (ˌprəʊtɪˈeɪʃəs)
adjective
Word origin
C20: from New Latin, from Proteus, referring to the large number of different forms of the plant
protea in American English
(ˈproʊtiə)
noun
1.
any of a genus (Protea) of mostly tropical, evergreen shrubs and small trees of the protea family, with very large, colorful flowers resemblingsunflowers
adjective
2.
designating a family (Proteaceae, order Proteales) of ornamental, dicotyledonous trees, shrubs, and plants, including banksia
Examples of 'protea' in a sentence
protea
Why protea the Gut or the codes or the technical manuals for the sonar- the good aptain was never going home to share them.