carnation

UK: /kɑː^rˈneɪʃ^ən/ US: /kɑrˈneɪʃən/ ,(kär nā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

car•na•tion /kɑrˈneɪʃən/   n. [countable]

1. Plant Biology a plant having long-stalked, fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

car•na•tion  (kär nā′shən), n. 

1. Plant Biology 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.

• Late Latin carnātiōn- (stem of carnātiō) fleshlikeness, hence flesh-color, equivalent. to Latin carn- (stem of carō) flesh + -ātiōn- -ation
• 1525–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

carnation / kɑːˈneɪʃən/ noun

1. Also called: clove pink a Eurasian caryophyllaceous plant, Dianthus caryophyllus, cultivated in many varieties for its white, pink, or red flowers, which have a fragrant scent of cloves
2. the flower of this plant
3. a pink or reddish-pink colour
4. (as adjective): a carnation dress

Etymology: 16th Century: from French, literally: flesh colour, from Late Latin carnātiō fleshiness, from Latin carō flesh