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Definition of gloriosa
gloriosa
/ˌɡlɔːriˈoʊsə/
glo · ri · o · sa
Plural:gloriosas
gloriosa Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
gloriosa Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A climbing plant or flower of the genus Gloriosa (family Colchicaceae), native to tropical Africa and Asia, renowned for its spectacular, brightly colored flowers with strongly reflexed petals; commonly known as the flame lily.
Example
"The gardener built a tall trellis to support the sprawling vines and vibrant, fire-colored blooms of the gloriosa."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the scientific botanical genus, the word is capitalized as 'Gloriosa'; when used as a common name for the plant or its flower, it is typically written in lowercase.
• Rhymes for gloriosa
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Modern Latin, derived from the feminine form of the Latin 'gloriosus' (glorious), chosen by Linnaeus to describe the plant's spectacularly showy flowers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gloriosa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gloriosa