I. magˈnōlyə, maig- noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Pierre Magnol died 1715 French botanist + New Latin -ia
1. capitalized : a genus (the type of the family Magnoliaceae) of No. American and Asian shrubs and trees that have entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers appearing in early spring often before the leaves, having many ovoid pistils borne on a sessile receptacle, and being followed by a follicular fruit
2. -s : any tree or shrub of the genus Magnolia
3. -s : tulip tree 1
4. -s : the dried bark of any plant of the genus Magnolia (especially M. virginiana ) used in folk medicine
[s]magnolia.jpg[/s]
II. adjective
Usage: sometimes capitalized
Etymology: so called from the traditional popularity of magnolia trees on old southern plantations
: of, relating to, or resembling the South of pre-Civil War days
smile at the sentimentalities of the magnolia tradition — W.S.White