- any of a genus (Malva) of plants of the mallow family, with dissected or lobed leaves
- any of various other plants of the mallow family, as the marsh mallow or rose mallow
Origin of mallowMiddle English malwe ; from Old English mealuwe ; from Classical Latin malva (from source German malve, French mauve): see malachite
designating a family (Malvaceae, order Malvales) of dicotyledonous plants, including the hollyhock, cotton, marsh mallow, and okra, typically having large, showy flowers with many stamens borne on a tube, and a sticky juice in their stems, leaves, and roots
- Any of various plants of the genus Malva of the mallow family, having pink, purple, or white axillary flowers, palmate or dissected leaves, and dry disk-shaped fruits.
- Any of various other plants in the mallow family, such as the rose mallow.
Origin of mallowMiddle English malwe, from Old English mealwe and from Old French malve, both from Latin malva, probably of Semitic origin; see ml&hlowdot; in Semitic roots.