pə̇ˈtünyə, pə̇.ˈtyü-, -nēə noun
Etymology: New Latin, from obsolete French petun tobacco (from Middle French petun, petum, from Tupi petyn, petyma ) + New Latin -ia
1.
a. capitalized : a genus of branching and often straggling annual or perennial So. American herbs (family Solanaceae) that have viscid and pubescent stems and foliage, bear abundant flowers with funnel-form or salver-shaped flowers, and are widely cultivated as ornamentals
b. -s : any plant of the genus Petunia
2. -s : a dark purple that is bluer, lighter, and stronger than average prune, bluer and stronger than plum (sense 6b) and bluer and duller than mulberry (sense 2a)
[s]petunia.jpg[/s]