petal

From Ancient Greek πέταλον (pétalon), from πέταλος (pétalos, “broad, flat”).

• (UK) enPR: pĕt'(ə)l, IPA^(key): /ˈpɛt(ə)l/
• (US) enPR: pĕt'(ə)l, IPA^(key): /ˈpɛtl̩/, [ˈpʰɛɾɫ̩]
• Rhymes: -ɛt(ə)l
• Homophones: peddle, pedal (in some dialects, including many US ones)
• Hyphenation: pet‧al

petal (plural petals)

1. (botany) One of the component parts of the corolla of a flower, when this consists of separate parts, that is it is not fused. Petals are often brightly colored.
2. Term of endearment.
   • 2011, Jo Baker, The Picture Book

     She is freezing cold. Sputtering. Big eyes wide and wet and red. Too shocked even to cry. 'It's okay, petal, it's okay.'

• sepal
• tepal

• Patel, Plate, leapt, lepta, palet, pelta, plate, platé, pleat, tepal