heliconia

noun

hel·​i·​co·​nia ˌhe-lə-ˈkō-nē-ə How to pronounce heliconia (audio)
-nyə
: any of a genus (Heliconia of the family Heliconiaceae) of perennial herbs of tropical America and islands of the western Pacific having showy brightly colored bracts and large leaves

Examples of heliconia in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Curl up in a hammock on your casita's terrace and take in the sights and sounds of the jungle canopy, from brightly colored bougainvillea and heliconia flowers to toucans and hummingbirds. — House Beautiful, 16 June 2023 Indonesian wax ginger, birds of paradise, and a bodacious heliconia bring instant aloha to your lover’s heart. — Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 12 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, ultimately from Greek Helikōnios, from Helikōn Helicon, mountain in Greece

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heliconia was in 1838

Rhymes for heliconia

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Browse Nearby Words

Helicon
heliconia
Heliconian
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Cite this Entry

“Heliconia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heliconia. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heliconia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heliconia

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