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
Yankee Candle Fresh Cut Roses Large Jar Candle Another floral-scented candle currently on sale is this large jar with notes of red rose, geranium, and citrus.
—
Isabel Garcia, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Its laundry list of white floral notes is extensive—Egyptian geranium, Comoran Ylang Ylang, iris, and two varieties of jasmine, to name a few—but creamy tuberose is the namesake and star here.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 27 Feb. 2025
That includes those that are highly-scented such as rosemary, geraniums, sage, and lavender, says Khan.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025
For a spa-like bonus, the treatment is infused with Aveda’s signature scent, which melds calming notes of lavender, rosemary, geranium, and vanilla.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
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Isabel Garcia, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Its laundry list of white floral notes is extensive—Egyptian geranium, Comoran Ylang Ylang, iris, and two varieties of jasmine, to name a few—but creamy tuberose is the namesake and star here.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 27 Feb. 2025
That includes those that are highly-scented such as rosemary, geraniums, sage, and lavender, says Khan.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025
For a spa-like bonus, the treatment is infused with Aveda’s signature scent, which melds calming notes of lavender, rosemary, geranium, and vanilla.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for geranium
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Cite this Entry
“Geranium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geranium. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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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