carnations

Noun

carnation (countable and uncountable, plural carnations)

1. originally, Dianthus caryophyllus
2. other members of genus Dianthus and hybrids

   Synonyms:

   clove pink, cottage pink, Dianthus plumarius, Dianthus caryophyllus

3. The type of flower they bear, originally flesh-coloured, but since hybridizing found in a variety of colours.
4. A rosy pink colour
   • And the women of New Bedford, they bloom like their own red roses. But roses only bloom in summer; whereas the fine carnation of their cheeks is perennial as sunlight in the seventh heavens.1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 6
5. (archaic, especially) The pinkish colors used in art to render human face and flesh
6. A scarlet colour.

See all 10 meanings of carnation