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Definition of medinilla
medinilla
/ˌmɛd.ɪˈnɪl.ə/
med · i · nil · la
Plural:medinillas
medinilla Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various evergreen tropical shrubs or lianas of the melastome family, native to Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands, distinguished by their large, leathery leaves and showy, pendulous clusters of pink or red flowers.
Example
"The conservatory's centerpiece was a magnificent blooming medinilla, its heavy pink flower bracts cascading elegantly from the branches."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for medinilla• Rhymes for medinilla
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1820 by the French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré in honor of José de Medinilla y Pineda, who served as a Spanish governor of the Mariana Islands.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Medinilla. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/medinilla