bougainvillea

noun

bou·​gain·​vil·​lea ˌbü-gən-ˈvil-yə How to pronounce bougainvillea (audio)
ˌbō-,
ˌbu̇-,
-ˈvē-ə How to pronounce bougainvillea (audio)
variants or less commonly bougainvillaea
: any of a genus (Bougainvillaea) of the four-o'clock family of ornamental tropical American woody vines and shrubs with brilliant purple or red floral bracts

Examples of bougainvillea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Make sure to visit the Jardin Majorelle, a 20th-century botanical garden where hundreds of species of plants, trees, succulents, shrubs, and vines—from coconut palm trees and bougainvillea to water lilies and giant agave—sprout, climb, and grow around meandering pathways. Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025 The tree hangs from the ceiling and features more than 10,000 porcelain bougainvillea leaves and 600 flowers that extend across the space. Caitlin Palumbo, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 This town is pure California, with arid temps, soaring date palms, and bursts of impossibly red bougainvillea that spills from white adobe brick courtyards. Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025 My mom has always loved Easter; growing up, our big party of the year in Los Angeles was an egg hunt tucked under the bougainvillea and eucalyptus trees, followed by a heaving lunch buffet. Chloe Malle, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bougainvillea

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Louis Antoine de Bougainville

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bougainvillea was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Bougainvillea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bougainvillea. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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