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Definition of matthiola
matthiola
/ˌmæθiˈoʊlə/
mat · thi · o · la
Plural:matthiolas
matthiola Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any plant of the genus Matthiola in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), native to Eurasia and Africa, widely cultivated in gardens for their highly fragrant, brightly colored flowers and commonly known as stock.
Example
"The gardener planted a border of matthiola to ensure the evening air would be filled with their sweet, clove-like scent."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for matthiolaWord Nuance & Usage
In formal botanical texts, it is capitalized and italicized as the genus name, whereas it is written in lowercase when referring to the plants in a general garden context.
• Rhymes for matthiola
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in New Latin after the 16th-century Italian physician and botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Matthiola. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/matthiola