carnation

Pronunciation: /kɑːˈneɪ.ʃən/

The English word “carnation” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

originally, Dianthus caryophyllus
other members of genus Dianthus and hybrids
The type of flower they bear, originally flesh-coloured, but since hybridizing found in a variety of colours.
A rosy pink colour
The pinkish colors used in art to render human face and flesh
A scarlet colour.

adjective

Of a rosy pink or red colour.
Of a human flesh color.

Etymology

From Middle French carnation (“flesh color, complexion”), either via Italian carnagione (“flesh color”) or directly from Late Latin carnātiō (“fleshiness”), from Latin carō (“flesh, meat”) + ātiō (“-ation”). As a flower and its color, possibly instead from corruption in French of coronation (“crowning, crowned thing”) under the influence of carnation, from the flower's supposed resemblance to a…

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