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Definition of babiana
babiana
/ˌbæbiˈɑːnə/
ba · bi · a · na
Plural:babianas
babiana Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various cormous plants of the genus Babiana in the iris family, native primarily to southern Africa, characterized by prominently pleated leaves and brightly colored, often fragrant tubular flowers.
Example
"The botanical garden featured a vivid display of pink and blue babianas in the South African native plant section."
• Rhymes for babiana
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Dutch word 'baviaantje' (little baboon), from 'baviaan' (baboon). The plant was so named by early colonists in southern Africa because they observed wild baboons digging up and eating the plant's corms.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Babiana. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/babiana