geranium
noun
ge·ra·ni·um
jə-ˈrā-nē-əm 
-nyəm
-nyəm
1
: any of a widely distributed genus (Geranium of the family Geraniaceae, the geranium family) of plants having regular usually white, pink, or purple flowers with elongated styles and glands that alternate with the petals
called also cranesbill
2
3
: a vivid or strong red
Examples of geranium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Use your stackable planter for aromatic blooms like lavender, rosemary, jasmine, and geraniums.
—
Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
The same is true for some flowers, such as marigolds and geraniums.
—Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for geranium 
Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
The same is true for some flowers, such as marigolds and geraniums.
—Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for geranium
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'geranium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Geranium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geranium. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
geranium
noun
ge·ra·ni·um
jə-ˈrā-nē-əm
1
: any of a genus of herbs with usually deeply cut leaves and typically white, pink, or purple flowers in which glands alternate with the petals
2
: any of a genus of herbs native to southern Africa with showy flowers of usually red, pink, or white
Etymology
from Latin geranium "geranium," from Greek geranion, literally, "little crane," from geranos "crane"
Word Origin
Many of the plants in the geranium family have long, thin, pointed seedpods or fruits that look like the bills of birds. The ancient Greeks noticed this resemblance. They named the wild geranium geranion, literally meaning "little crane," for the long-legged, long-billed wading bird. English borrowed the Latin form geranium. English also borrowed the idea that the geranium's seedpod looks like a bird's bill. The common English name of the wild geranium is cranesbill.
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