different between petal vs nyctinasty

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ??????? (pétalon), from ??????? (pétalos, “broad, flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *peth?- (“to spread out”), whence Latin pand? and Proto-Germanic *faþmaz (“embrace”) (English fathom).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?tl?/
• Rhymes: -?t(?)l
• Homophones: peddle, pedal (in accents with flapping)
• Hyphenation: pet?al

Noun

petal (plural petals)

1. (botany) One of the component parts of the corolla of a flower. It applies particularly, but not necessarily only, when the corolla consists of separate parts, that is when the petals are not connately fused. Petals are often brightly colored.
2. Term of endearment.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• sepal
• tepal

Verb

petal (third-person singular simple present petals, present participle petaling, simple past and past participle petaled)

1. To spread out from, like the petals of a flower

Anagrams

• Patel, Plate, leapt, lepta, palet, pelta, plate, platé, pleat, tepal

English

Etymology

From nyct- +? -i- +? -nasty.

Noun

nyctinasty (uncountable)

1. (botany) The movement of leaves or petals in response to darkness; the closing of a flower at night.

   Synonyms: nyctinastism, nyctitropism

Derived terms

• nyctinastic

Translations

See also

• heliotropism

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.