any scrophulariaceous tree of the Japanese genus Paulownia, esp P. tomentosa, having large heart-shaped leaves and clusters of purplish or white flowers
Word origin
C19: New Latin, named after Anna Paulovna, daughter of Paul I of Russia
paulownia in American English
(pɔˈloʊniə)
noun
any of a genus (Paulownia) of Asiatic trees of the figwort family, with large, heart-shaped leaves and large, erect clusters of violet flowers; esp., a tree (P. tomentosa) having fragrant, violet flowers like those of foxglove
Word origin
ModL, after Anna Pavlovna (died 1865), daughter of Czar Paul2 (sense 2)
Examples of 'paulownia' in a sentence
paulownia
That marvellous square with the paulownia and the white-globed lamp posts and the ghost of Delacroix lurking in the background.