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Definition of painted tongue
painted tongue
Plural:painted tongues
painted tongue Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
An ornamental annual flowering plant (Salpiglossis sinuata) belonging to the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to southern Chile, cultivated for its striking, velvety, trumpet-shaped flowers marked with intricate, contrasting veins.
Example
"She planted painted tongue in the garden borders to add dramatic splashes of crimson, purple, and gold."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for painted tongue• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name derives from the plant's velvety, trumpet-shaped petals, which feature intricate, highly contrasting veins that look as though they were carefully painted onto a tongue-like canvas.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Painted tongue. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/painted tongue