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Dianthus caryophyllus

Dianthus caryophyllus

8.8
A garden plant with sweet smelling pink to red flowers called carnations
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : clavel
  • He presented her with a bouquet of pink Dianthus caryophyllus to celebrate her birthday.

Examples

  • The garden was filled with the sweet fragrance of Dianthus caryophyllus in full bloom.

  • Horticulturists often breed new varieties of Dianthus caryophyllus for their colorful and fragrant flowers.

  • The Dianthus caryophyllus is a popular choice for gardens.

  • Many florists prefer Dianthus caryophyllus for its fragrance.

  • He presented her with a bouquet of pink Dianthus caryophyllus to celebrate her birthday.

  • The garden was filled with the sweet fragrance of Dianthus caryophyllus in full bloom.

  • Horticulturists often breed new varieties of Dianthus caryophyllus for their colorful and fragrant flowers.

Synonyms

carnation
vsDianthus caryophyllus
15 2.8

A garden flower with a sweet smell and many pink, red, or white petals

emits a spicier clove like scent rather than a primarily sweet fragrance
clove pink
vsDianthus caryophyllus
9.1

A garden flower with many petals and a spicy clove smell

is the botanical name used in scientific contexts rather than the common form

Surface Forms

Morphology

Dianthus + caryophyllus

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species); knowing 'Dianthus' (a flowering plant) lets a learner infer that the phrase names a type of Dianthus, so there is partial compositionality. However, 'caryophyllus' is not an English lexical item and the common-name meaning 'carnation' or the specific traits are not derivable by a B1 learner without botanical/Latin knowledge, making the overall interpretation only partially transparent.

Etymology

Dianthus caryophyllus is the scientific name for the common flower 'carnation'. The name likely comes from Greek words: Dianthus means 'flower of the gods' and caryophyllus points to its clove-like, spicy smell, so the name helps you remember this sweet, showy garden flower.