any annual or perennial plant of the genus Zinnia, of tropical and subtropical America, having solitary heads of brightly coloured flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)
Word origin
C18: named after J. G. Zinn (died 1759), German botanist
zinnia in American English
(ˈzɪniə; ˈzɪnjə)
noun
any of a genus (Zinnia) of plants of the composite family, having colorful flower heads, native to Northand South America
Word origin
ModL, after J. G. Zinn (1727-59), Ger botanist
Examples of 'zinnia' in a sentence
zinnia
Only four zinnias had grown leaves and most were mouldy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Fill them with cheap and cheerful zinnias or fragrant lavender.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And nothing can beat the simplicity of growing technicoloured zinnias from seed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Chrysanthemums need to be planted and another row of zinnias sown to provide summer and autumn cut flowers.
The Sun (2015)
Annuals such as cosmos and zinnias are a great way to add temporary colour for the price of a packet of seeds.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If you like flowers to cut, sow a few zinnia seeds.
The Sun (2010)
Cut flowers are provided for by a few rows of zinnias, dahlias and gladioli in thekitchen garden.
Page, Russell The Education of a Gardener (1994)
If you want masses of flowers to cut for no more than the price of a packet of seeds, get some largeflowered zinnias.