Definition of "peony" [pe•o•ny]

• Any of various garden plants of the genus Paeonia, having large, variously colored flowers with numerous stamens and several pistils. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "A friend of mine suggested that "lilied" was peculiarly appropriate to form "cold nymphs chaste crowns," from its imputed power as a preserver of chastity: and in MR. HALLIWELL'S folio, several examples are quoted from old poets of "peony" spelt "piony;" and of both _peony_ and _lily_ as"
• "This peony is very reminiscent of HEAVEN ON EARTH."
• "HA Lisa, I have to laugh at you calling the peony a thing!"