noun
carnation
kah-NAY-shuhn
Carnation (noun) means a garden plant with fragrant, often frilly-edged flowers, popular as a cut flower. Example: “He pinned a white carnation to his lapel for the wedding.”
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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like carnation.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- carnations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →
clove pink
gillyflower
Related words
Rhymes for carnation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for carnation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “carnation” mean?
The word “carnation” means a garden plant with fragrant, often frilly-edged flowers, popular as a cut flower. In plain terms, a popular ruffled flower, and also the soft pink-flesh colour named after it.
How do you pronounce “carnation”?
“Carnation” is pronounced kah-NAY-shuhn (/kɑɹˈneɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “carnation” in a sentence?
Here is “carnation” used in a sentence: “He pinned a white carnation to his lapel for the wedding.”
What part of speech is “carnation”?
“Carnation” is a noun.
Where does the word “carnation” come from?
The word “carnation” comes from Latin. 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.
How many meanings does “carnation” have?
“Carnation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a garden plant with fragrant, often frilly-edged flowers, popular as a cut flower.
