pe|tu|ni|a

pe|tu|ni|a «puh TOO nee uh, -TYOO-; -TOON yuh, -TYOON-», noun.

1. a common garden plant that has white, pink, or purple flowers shaped like funnels. The petunia was originally native to South America and is a member of the nightshade family. There are several kinds, comprising a genus of plants.

2. the flower of any one of these plants.

3. a dark violet or purple.

╂[< New Latin Petunia the genus name < French petun tobacco < Guarani (Paraguay) pet (the is a nasal sound)]