carnation

carnation
/kahr nay"sheuhn/, n.
1. any of numerous cultivated varieties of the clove pink, Dianthus caryophyllus, having long-stalked, fragrant, usually double flowers in a variety of colors: the state flower of Ohio.
2. pink; light red.
3. Obs. the color of flesh.
adj.
4. having the color carnation.
[1525-35; < LL carnation- (s. of carnatio) fleshlikeness, hence flesh-color, equiv. to L carn- (s. of caro) flesh + -ation- -ATION]

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Herbaceous plant (Dianthus caryophyllus) of the pink family, native to the Mediterranean, widely cultivated for its fringe-petaled, often spicy-smelling flowers.

Border, or garden, carnations include a range of varieties and hybrids. The perpetual flowering carnation, taller and stouter, produces larger flowers and blooms almost continuously in the greenhouse; miniature (baby) and spray varieties are also grown for the florist trade. Carnations are among the most popular cut flowers, used in floral arrangements, corsages, and boutonnieres.

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▪ plant
also called  grenadine , or  clove pink 

      (Dianthus caryophyllus), herbaceous plant of the pink, or carnation, family (Caryophyllaceae), native to the Mediterranean area. It is widely cultivated for its fringe-petaled flowers, which often have a spicy fragrance.

      There are two general groups, the border, or garden, carnations and the perpetual flowering carnations. Border carnations include a range of varieties and hybrids, 30 to 75 cm (1 to 2.5 feet) tall; the flowers, in a wide range of colours, are usually less than 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter and are borne on wiry, stiffly erect stems. The bluish green leaves are narrow, sheathing the stems; there are swellings at the junction of leaf and stem.

      The perpetual flowering carnation, perhaps derived from crosses between the border carnations and the D. plumarius, is taller, up to 1 metre (3 feet) in height, is stouter, and produces larger flowers; it blooms almost continuously in the greenhouse. Miniature (baby) and spray varieties of the perpetual carnation are also grown for the florist trade.

      Carnations are among the most popular commercial cut flowers, being used in floral arrangements, corsages, and boutonnieres. In 1907 Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia selected the pink carnation as the symbol for Mother's Day. In Europe the carnation was formerly used as a treatment for fevers. It was also used to spice wine and ale during Elizabethan times, as a substitute for the more expensive clove (Syzygium aromaticum).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • carnation — [ karnasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • XVe; it. carnagione, de carne « chair » 1 ♦ Couleur, apparence de la chair d une personne. ⇒ 1. teint. « sa saine pâleur rosée, sa carnation de tubéreuse » (Colette). 2 ♦ Peint. Coloration des parties du corps qui sont… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Carnation — may refer to:* Dianthus caryophyllus‎ , a flowering plant known as Carnation * Carnation (colour), the colour of the flower of a carnation plant * Carnation (heraldry), the colour of flesh (pale pink) * Carnation, Washington, a U.S. city *… …   Wikipedia

  • carnation — CARNATION. s. f. Terme de Peinture. Représentation de la chair de l homme par le coloris. Cette carnation est belle, vive, naturelle. f♛/b] Il se dit dans le langage usuel, pour signifier Le teint d un homme, ou d une femme. Une belle carnation.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Carnation — Car*na tion, n. [F. carnation the flesh tints in a painting, It carnagione, fr. L. carnatio fleshiness, fr. caro, carnis, flesh. See {Carnal}.] 1. The natural color of flesh; rosy pink. [1913 Webster] Her complexion of the delicate carnation. Ld …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Carnation — Carnation, WA U.S. city in Washington Population (2000): 1893 Housing Units (2000): 650 Land area (2000): 1.095255 sq. miles (2.836698 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.095255 sq. miles (2.836698 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Carnation, WA — U.S. city in Washington Population (2000): 1893 Housing Units (2000): 650 Land area (2000): 1.095255 sq. miles (2.836698 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.095255 sq. miles (2.836698 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Carnation — Carnation …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • carnation — cultivated variety of the clove pink, 1530s, either a corruption of CORONATION (Cf. coronation), from the flower s being used in chaplets or from the toothed crown like look of the petals; or for its pinkness from M.Fr. carnation person s color… …   Etymology dictionary

  • carnation — Carnation. s. f. Terme de Peinture, Couleur de la chair de l homme. Cette carnation est belle, vive, naturelle …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • carnation — ► NOUN ▪ a double flowered cultivated variety of clove pink, with grey green leaves and showy pink, white, or red flowers. ORIGIN perhaps based on a misreading of an Arabic word meaning clove or clove pink , influenced by French carnation «flesh… …   English terms dictionary

  • Carnation — (v. lat.), die Nachahmung der Hautfarbe am menschlichen Körper in der Malerei, hat wegen der gebrochenen, an keiner Stelle deutlich u. bestimmt hervortretenden Farbentöne der Haut große Schwierigkeiten u. erfordert sowohl ein genaues Studium der… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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