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.
Verb
To spread out from, like the petals of a flower
Origin
From Ancient Greek πέταλον, from πέταλος, from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂-, whence Latin pandō and Proto-Germanic *faþmaz ("embrace") (English fathom).
Modern English dictionary
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