• Flower

    Pronunciation

    • UK
    • US
    • Rhymes: -aÊŠ.É™(r), -aÊŠÉ™(r)
    • Homophones: flour (for people who pronounce flower as one syllable, or flour as two)

    Origin 1

    Alternative forms

    From Middle English flour, from Anglo-Norman flur, from Latin flōrem, accusative of flōs, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃ ("to thrive, bloom"). Replaced Middle English blosme, blossem ("flower, blossom") (more at blossom).

    Noun

    flower

    (plural flowers)
    1. A colorful, conspicuous structure associated with angiosperms, frequently scented and attracting various insects, and which may or may not be used for sexual reproduction.
      • 1597, De Campo, Don Richardo de Medico The Trimming of Thomas Nashe GentlemanHow frail a flower thou doÅ¿t Å¿o highly a prize:/Beauty's the flower, but love the flower-pot/That muÅ¿t preÅ¿erve it, els it quickly dyes.
    2. (botany) A reproductive structure in angiosperms (flowering plants), often conspicuously colourful and typically including sepals, petals, and either or both stamens and/or a pistil.
      • 1894, H. G. Wells, You know, Darwin studied their fertilisation, and showed that the whole structure of an ordinary orchid flower was contrived in order that moths might carry the pollen from plant to plant.
    3. A plant that bears flowers, especially a plant that is small and lacks wood.We transplanted the flowers to a larger pot.
    4. (usually with in) Of plants, a state of bearing blooms.The dogwoods are in flower this week.
    5. (euphemistic, hypocoristic) The vulva, especially the labia majora.
    6. (idiomatic) The best examples or representatives of a group.We selected the flower of the applicants.
      • HookerThe choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain.
      • Southeythe flower of the chivalry of all Spain
    7. The best state of things; the prime.She was in the flower of her life.
      • TennysonA simple maiden in her flower
        Is worth a hundred coats of arms.
    8. (obsolete) Flour.
      • ArbuthnotThe flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a sort of glue.
    9. (in the plural, chemistry, obsolete) A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation.the flowers of sulphur
    10. A figure of speech; an ornament of style.
    11. (printing) Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc.
    12. (in the plural) Menstrual discharges.

    Usage notes

    In its most common sense as "a colorful conspicuous structure", the word flower includes many structures which are not anatomically flowers in the botanical sense. Sunflowers and daisies, for example, are structurally clusters of many small flowers that together appear to be a single flower (a capitulum, a form of pseudanthium), but these are considered to be flowers in the general sense. Likewise, the botanical definition of flower includes many structures that would not be considered a flower by the average person, such as the catkins of a willow tree or the downy flowers found atop a cattail stalk.

    Synonyms

    Full definition of flower

    Verb

    1. To put forth blooms.This plant flowers in June.
    2. To reach a state of full development or achievement.
      • Spenserwhen flowered my youthful spring
      • 1940 Mahadev Desai, translator, Mahatma Gandhi, , Part III (IX) , original published 1927-1929It only needed watering to take root, to flower and to fructify, and the watering came in due course.
    3. To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.
      • Francis BaconThat beer did flower a little.
    4. To come off as flowers by sublimation.
      • Miltonobservations which have flowered off

    Synonyms

    Related terms

    Derived terms

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /ˈfləʊə/
    • US IPA: /ˈfloÊŠÉš/

    Origin 2

    {1} + -er

    Noun

    flower

    (plural flowers)
    1. Something that flows, such as a river.

    Anagrams

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