corolla: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, botanical, technical (automotive)
Quick answer
What does “corolla” mean?
The collective name for the petals of a flower, often forming a conspicuous whorl within the sepals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The collective name for the petals of a flower, often forming a conspicuous whorl within the sepals.
By extension, it can refer to the Toyota Corolla car model, one of the world's best-selling vehicles. In a more abstract sense, it may denote anything with a crown-like, circular arrangement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant linguistic differences. The primary association in both regions is with the car. Botanical usage is equally rare in both.
Connotations
In both dialects, the botanical term has a neutral, scientific connotation. The car model connotes reliability, ubiquity, and practicality.
Frequency
The word is of low frequency in general English. When it does occur, it is almost always a reference to the car, making the botanical term extremely low-frequency by comparison.
Grammar
How to Use “corolla” in a Sentence
The corolla of [flower name] is [adjective].She owns a [year] Toyota Corolla.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corolla” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable. 'Corolla' is not used as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Corolla' is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. 'Corolla' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Corolla' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable. 'Corolla' is not used as a standard adjective.
American English
- Not applicable. 'Corolla' is not used as a standard adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers almost exclusively to the Toyota car model in the automotive industry, e.g., 'Corolla sales figures.'
Academic
Used in botany, biology, and horticulture to describe floral morphology precisely.
Everyday
Almost exclusively refers to the Toyota Corolla car, e.g., 'I'm thinking of buying a Corolla.'
Technical
Botanical: precise description of floral anatomy. Automotive: discussions of vehicle specifications, engineering, or marketing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corolla”
- Misspelling as 'corrola' or 'corolla'.
- Using lowercase for the car model name in formal writing (should be 'Corolla').
- Assuming the word is common in everyday flower descriptions (it's highly technical).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. Most English speakers know it primarily as the name of the Toyota car, not the botanical term.
Yes. 'Toyota Corolla' is a proper noun (a brand and model name) and should be capitalised. The botanical term 'corolla' is a common noun and is not capitalised.
No. In standard English, 'corolla' functions only as a noun.
In botany, the corolla refers to the whorl of petals, while the calyx refers to the whorl of sepals (usually green, leaf-like structures that protect the flower bud). The corolla is typically inside the calyx.
The collective name for the petals of a flower, often forming a conspicuous whorl within the sepals.
Corolla is usually formal, botanical, technical (automotive) in register.
Corolla: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈrɒl.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈroʊ.lə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is not used idiomatically.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROWN (corolla sounds like 'crown') of petals on a flower, or the Toyota logo as a crown on the car's grille.
Conceptual Metaphor
CROWN / CIRCLE OF PROTECTION (The petals crown the reproductive parts of the flower; the car is seen as a 'crown' of reliable transportation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common contemporary usage of the word 'corolla' in everyday English?