noun
carnation
kah-NAY-shuhn
noun
1
A garden plant with fragrant, often frilly-edged flowers, popular as a cut flower.
"He pinned a white carnation to his lapel for the wedding."
"She grows carnations alongside roses in her garden."
2
A pale pinkish colour, originally named after the flower's natural flesh-toned shade.
"The dress was carnation rather than true pink."
How to Use Carnation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA popular ruffled flower, and also the soft pink-flesh colour named after it.
Common pairings
a bouquet of carnations
pink carnation
carnation corsage
Word Forms
carnations plural
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He pinned a white _____ to his lapel for the wedding.
Etymology
From Middle French carnation, "flesh colour," from Latin caro ("flesh") — the flower was named for its original pale pinkish-flesh hue, not the other way round.