Related Searches
on Ask.com
Impatiens - 3 dictionary results
im⋅pa⋅tiens
[im-pey-shuh
nz] 
–noun, plural -tiens.
| any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Impatiens, of the balsam family, having irregular flowers in which the calyx and corolla are not clearly distinguishable and bearing fruit that bursts open to scatter the seeds. |
Origin:
1880–85; < NL, L impatiēns not enduring, not tolerating (see impatient ); alluding to the plant's quick release of seeds upon slight contact; cf. the familiar name touch-me-not
1880–85; < NL, L impatiēns not enduring, not tolerating (see impatient ); alluding to the plant's quick release of seeds upon slight contact; cf. the familiar name touch-me-not
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
|
Link To Impatiens
| im·pa·tiens (ĭm-pā'shənz, -shəns) n. Any of various plants of the genus Impatiens, which includes the jewelweed. [Latin impatiēns, impatient (so called because the ripe pods burst open when touched); see impatient.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Impatiens
Im*pa"ti*ens\, n. [L., impatient.] (Bot.) A genus of plants, several species of which have very beautiful flowers; -- so called because the elastic capsules burst when touched, and scatter the seeds with considerable force. Called also touch-me-not, jewelweed, and snapweed. I. Balsamina (sometimes called lady's slipper) is the common garden balsam.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
