flower


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flower

a blossom; a plant that blooms
Not to be confused with:
flour – ground meal
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
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flower

flow·er

 (flou′ər)
n.
1.
a. The reproductive structure of angiosperms, characteristically having either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs, such as stamens and a pistil, enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals.
b. Such a structure having showy or colorful parts; a blossom.
c. A flower head.
2. A plant that is cultivated or appreciated for its blossoms.
3. The condition or a time of having developed flowers: The azaleas were in full flower.
4. The period of highest development or greatest vigor. See Synonyms at bloom1.
5. The highest example or best representative: the flower of our generation.
6. A natural development or outgrowth: "His attitude was simply a flower of his general good nature" (Henry James).
7. flowers Chemistry A fine powder produced by condensation or sublimation of a compound.
v. flow·ered, flow·er·ing, flow·ers
v.intr.
1. To produce a flower or flowers; blossom.
2. To develop naturally or fully; mature: His artistic talents flowered early.
v.tr.
To decorate with flowers or with a floral pattern.

[Middle English flour, from Old French flor, from Latin flōs, flōr-; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]

flow′er·er n.
flow′er·less adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

flower

(ˈflaʊə)
n
1.
a. a bloom or blossom on a plant
b. a plant that bears blooms or blossoms
2. (Botany) the reproductive structure of angiosperm plants, consisting normally of stamens and carpels surrounded by petals and sepals all borne on the receptacle (one or more of these structures may be absent). In some plants it is conspicuous and brightly coloured and attracts insects or other animals for pollination.
3. (Botany) any similar reproductive structure in other plants
4. the prime; peak: in the flower of his youth.
5. the choice or finest product, part, or representative: the flower of the young men.
6. a decoration or embellishment
7. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing a type ornament, used with others in borders, chapter headings, etc
8. (Art Terms) Also called: fleuron an embellishment or ornamental symbol depicting a flower
9. (Chemistry) (plural) fine powder, usually produced by sublimation: flowers of sulphur.
vb
10. (intr) to produce flowers; bloom
11. (intr) to reach full growth or maturity
12. (tr) to deck or decorate with flowers or floral designs
[C13: from Old French flor, from Latin flōs; see blow3]
ˈflower-ˌlike adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

flow•er

(ˈflaʊ ər)

n.
1. the blossom of a plant. Compare inflorescence.
2.
a. the part of a seed plant comprising the reproductive organs and their envelopes if any, esp. when such envelopes are more or less conspicuous in form and color.
b. an analogous reproductive structure in other plants, as the mosses.
3. a plant considered with reference to or cultivated for its blossom.
4. a state of efflorescence or bloom: Peonies were in flower.
5. the finest or most flourishing period: when knighthood was in flower.
6. the best or finest member, product, or example: the flower of American youth.
7. flowers, (used with a sing. v.) a chemical substance in the form of a fine powder, esp. as obtained by sublimation.
v.i.
8. to produce flowers; blossom; come to full bloom.
9. to come out into full development; mature; flourish: Her talent flowered early.
v.t.
10. to cover or deck with flowers.
11. to decorate with a floral design.
[1150–1200; Middle English flour flower, best of anything < Old French flor, flour, flur < Latin flōrem acc. of flōs]
flow′er•less, adj.
flow′er•like`, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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flow·er

(flou′ər)
Noun
1. The reproductive structure of the seed-bearing plants known as angiosperms. The female reproductive part is the pistil, including the ovary, style, and stigma, and the male reproductive part is the stamen, including the filament and anther. The organs are enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals. See Note at pollination.
2. A flowering plant that is grown mainly for its brightly colored petals.
Verb
To produce flowers; bloom.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

flower


Past participle: flowered
Gerund: flowering

Imperative
flower
flower
Present
I flower
you flower
he/she/it flowers
we flower
you flower
they flower
Preterite
I flowered
you flowered
he/she/it flowered
we flowered
you flowered
they flowered
Present Continuous
I am flowering
you are flowering
he/she/it is flowering
we are flowering
you are flowering
they are flowering
Present Perfect
I have flowered
you have flowered
he/she/it has flowered
we have flowered
you have flowered
they have flowered
Past Continuous
I was flowering
you were flowering
he/she/it was flowering
we were flowering
you were flowering
they were flowering
Past Perfect
I had flowered
you had flowered
he/she/it had flowered
we had flowered
you had flowered
they had flowered
Future
I will flower
you will flower
he/she/it will flower
we will flower
you will flower
they will flower
Future Perfect
I will have flowered
you will have flowered
he/she/it will have flowered
we will have flowered
you will have flowered
they will have flowered
Future Continuous
I will be flowering
you will be flowering
he/she/it will be flowering
we will be flowering
you will be flowering
they will be flowering
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been flowering
you have been flowering
he/she/it has been flowering
we have been flowering
you have been flowering
they have been flowering
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been flowering
you will have been flowering
he/she/it will have been flowering
we will have been flowering
you will have been flowering
they will have been flowering
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been flowering
you had been flowering
he/she/it had been flowering
we had been flowering
you had been flowering
they had been flowering
Conditional
I would flower
you would flower
he/she/it would flower
we would flower
you would flower
they would flower
Past Conditional
I would have flowered
you would have flowered
he/she/it would have flowered
we would have flowered
you would have flowered
they would have flowered
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

flower

The specialized reproductive shoot of a flowering plant.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.flower - a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossomsflower - a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
angiosperm, flowering plant - plants having seeds in a closed ovary
bloomer - a flower that blooms in a particular way; "a night bloomer"
paeony, peony - any of numerous plants widely cultivated for their showy single or double red or pink or white flowers
lesser celandine, pilewort, Ranunculus ficaria - perennial herb native to Europe but naturalized elsewhere having heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers resembling buttercups; its tuberous roots have been used as a poultice to relieve piles
Adonis annua, pheasant's-eye - Eurasian herb cultivated for its deep red flowers with dark centers
anemone, windflower - any woodland plant of the genus Anemone grown for its beautiful flowers and whorls of dissected leaves
Anemonella thalictroides, rue anemone - woodland flower native to eastern North America having cup-shaped flowers reminiscent of anemone but more delicate
aquilege, aquilegia, columbine - a plant of the genus Aquilegia having irregular showy spurred flowers; north temperate regions especially mountains
Consolida ambigua, Delphinium ajacis, rocket larkspur - commonly cultivated larkspur of southern Europe having unbranched spikelike racemes of blue or sometimes purplish or pinkish flowers; sometime placed in genus Delphinium
delphinium - any plant of the genus Delphinium having palmately divided leaves and showy spikes of variously colored spurred flowers; some contain extremely poisonous substances
nigella - any plant of the genus Nigella
peace lily, spathe flower, spathiphyllum - any of various plants of the genus Spathiphyllum having a white or green spathe and a spike of fragrant flowers and often cultivated as an ornamental
arum lily, calla, calla lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica - South African plant widely cultivated for its showy pure white spathe and yellow spadix
sandwort - low-growing chiefly perennial plant usually with small white flowers suitable for e.g. rock gardens
garden pink, pink - any of various flowers of plants of the genus Dianthus cultivated for their fragrant flowers
babies'-breath, baby's breath, Gypsophila paniculata - tall plant with small lance-shaped leaves and numerous tiny white or pink flowers
lychnis, catchfly - mostly perennial herbs with sticky stems that catch insects; widespread in north temperate zone
Moehringia lateriflora, sandwort - low-growing herb having clusters of small white four-petaled flowers
Moehringia mucosa, sandwort - loosely matted plant with moss-like foliage studded with tiny starry four-petaled white blossoms; mountains of central and southern Europe
bouncing Bess, bouncing Bet, hedge pink, Saponaria officinalis, soapwort - plant of European origin having pink or white flowers and leaves yielding a detergent when bruised
campion, catchfly, silene - any plant of the genus Silene
cow cockle, cowherb, Saponaria vaccaria, Vaccaria hispanica, Vaccaria pyramidata - European annual with pale rose-colored flowers; cultivated flower or self-sown grainfield weed; introduced in North America; sometimes classified as a soapwort
fig marigold, pebble plant - any of several South African plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum cultivated for showy pink or white flowers
globe amaranth, Gomphrena globosa, bachelor's button - tropical American herb having rose to red or purple flowers that can be dried without losing color
Nyctaginia capitata, scarlet musk flower - viscid branched perennial of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico having tuberous roots and deep red flowers
umbrellawort - a plant of the genus Mirabilis
four o'clock - any of several plants of the genus Mirabilis having flowers that open in late afternoon
portulaca - a plant of the genus Portulaca having pink or red or purple or white ephemeral flowers
Carolina spring beauty, Claytonia caroliniana - similar to Claytonia virginica but having usually pink flowers; eastern North America
Clatonia lanceolata, spring beauty - small slender plant having one pair of succulent leaves at the middle of the stem and a loose raceme of white or pink or rose bowl-shaped flowers and an edible corm
Claytonia virginica, Virginia spring beauty - small cormous perennial grown for its low rosette of succulent foliage and racemes of pink-tinged white flowers; eastern North America
Cheiranthus cheiri, Erysimum cheiri, wallflower - perennial of southern Europe having clusters of fragrant flowers of all colors especially yellow and orange; often naturalized on old walls or cliffs; sometimes placed in genus Erysimum
2.flower - reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful partsflower - reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
angiosperm, flowering plant - plants having seeds in a closed ovary
floret, floweret - a diminutive flower (especially one that is part of a composite flower)
apetalous flower - flower having no petals
inflorescence - the flowering part of a plant or arrangement of flowers on a stalk
ray floret, ray flower - small flower with a flat strap-shaped corolla usually occupying the peripheral rings of a composite flower
bud - a partially opened flower
stamen - the male reproductive organ of a flower
reproductive structure - the parts of a plant involved in its reproduction
pistil - the female ovule-bearing part of a flower composed of ovary and style and stigma
carpel - a simple pistil or one element of a compound pistil
ovary - the organ that bears the ovules of a flower
floral leaf - a modified leaf that is part of a flower
chlamys, floral envelope, perianth, perigone, perigonium - collective term for the outer parts of a flower consisting of the calyx and corolla and enclosing the stamens and pistils
chrysanthemum - the flower of a chrysanthemum plant
3.flower - the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period"
golden age - a time period when some activity or skill was at its peak; "it was the golden age of cinema"
Verb1.flower - produce or yield flowers; "The cherry tree bloomed"
develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"
effloresce, burst forth - come into or as if into flower; "These manifestations effloresced in the past"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

flower

noun
1. bloom, blossom, efflorescence Each individual flower is tiny.
2. elite, best, prime, finest, pick, choice, cream, height, crème de la crème (French), choicest part the flower of American manhood
3. height, prime, peak, vigour, freshness, greatest or finest point You are hardly in the first flower of youth.
verb
1. bloom, open, mature, flourish, unfold, blossom, burgeon, effloresce Several of these plants will flower this year.
2. blossom, grow, develop, progress, mature, thrive, flourish, bloom, bud, prosper Their relationship flowered.
Related words
adjective floral
prefix antho-
like anthomania
Quotations
"There is no `Why' about the rose, it blossoms because it blossoms"
"It pays no heed to itself, and does not care whether it is seen" [Angelus Silesius]
"The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life" [Jean Giraudoux The Enchanted]
"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment" [Georgia O'Keeffe]

Flowers

acacia, acanthus, African violet, aloe, alyssum, amaranth, amaryllis, anemone, arbutus, asphodel, aspidistra, aster, aubrietia, aubrieta, or aubretia, azalea, begonia, betony, bignonia, black-eyed Susan, bluebell, bog asphodel, bougainvillea, burdock, Busy Lizzie, buttercup, cactus, calendula, camellia, camomile or chamomile, cardinal flower, carnation, celandine, Christmas cactus, chrysanthemum, clematis, columbine, cornflower, cotoneaster, cowslip, crocus, cyclamen, daffodil, dahlia, daisy, dandelion, deadly nightshade, delphinium, digitalis, dog rose, edelweiss, eglantine, forget-me-not, foxglove, freesia, geranium, gilliflower or gillyflower, gladiolus, godetia, grape hyacinth, groundsel, guelder-rose, gypsophila, harebell, heartsease or heart's-ease, heliotrope, hellebore, hemlock, hibiscus, hollyhock, hyacinth, hydrangea, iris, jasmine, jonquil, larkspur, lavender, lily, lily of the valley, lobelia, London pride, lotus, love-in-idleness, love-lies-bleeding, lupin, magnolia, mallow, mandrake, marguerite, marigold, marjoram, meadowsweet, monkshood, Michaelmas daisy, morning-glory, narcissus, nasturtium, old man's beard, orchid, oxeye daisy, oxlip, oxtongue, pansy, passionflower, peony or paeony, petunia, phlox, pimpernel, pink, poppy, primrose, primula, ragged robin, ragweed, rose, saffron, samphire, saxifrage, scarlet pimpernel, snapdragon, snowdrop, speedwell, stock, sunflower, sweetbrier, sweet pea, sweet william, tiger lily, tulip, valerian, verbena, violet, wallflower, water lily, willowherb, wintergreen, wisteria, wood anemone, woodbine, yarrow, zinnia
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

flower

noun
1. The showy reproductive structure of a plant:
2. A condition or time of vigor and freshness:
3. The superlative or most preferable part of something:
Idioms: cream of the crop, flower of the flock, pick of the bunch.
verb
1. To bear flowers:
2. To be in one's prime:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
زَهْرَةزَهْرَهيُزْهِريُزْهِرُ
цвете
kvéstkvětinakvět
blomstblomstre
floro
lill
kukkakukkia
cvijetcvjetati
virág
bungakembangpuspa
blómblómstra
花が咲く
꽃이 피다피다
flos
gėlėpapuoštas gėlėmispompastiškasvazonasžiedas
puķeziedētzieds
bloeienbloemopenbloeien
floare
kvet
cvetcveteticvetlica
blomma
-bariki-chanua-sitawi
ดอกไม้ผลิดอก
hoara hoabông

flower

[ˈflaʊəʳ]
A. N
1. (Bot) → flor f
in floweren flor
2. (= best) the flower of the armyla flor y nata del ejército
she was in the flower of her youthestaba en la flor de la vida
B. VIflorecer
C. CPD flower arrangement N (= art) = flower arranging (= exhibit) (on table) → arreglo m floral; (in park) → adorno m floral
flower arranging Narte m floral
flower child N (= hippy) → hippy mf, hippie mf
flower garden Njardín m (de flores)
flower head Ncabezuela f
flower people NPLhippies mpl
flower power Nfilosofía f hippy
flower seller Nflorista mf, vendedor(a) m/f de flores
flower shop Nfloristería f, tienda f de flores
flower show Nexposición f de flores
flower stall Npuesto m de flores
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

flower

[ˈflaʊər]
nfleur f
in flower → en fleurs
vi
[plant] → fleurir
[movement, relationship] → être florissant(e)flower arrangement ncomposition f floraleflower arranging nart m floral
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

flower

n
Blume f; (= blossom)Blüte f; “say it with flowers”lasst Blumen sprechen; no flowers by requestwir bitten von Blumenspenden abzusehen; to be in flowerblühen, in Blüte stehen; to come into flowerzu blühen anfangen
no pl (fig)Blüte f; to be in the (full) flower of youthin der Blüte seiner Jugend stehen; the flower of British manhooddie Zierde der britischen Männer
(Chem) flowers of sulphurSchwefelblume or -blüte f
vi (lit, fig)blühen

flower

:
flower arrangement
nBlumengesteck nt
flower arranging
nBlumenstecken nt, → Fertigen ntvon Blumenarrangements
flowerbed
nBlumenbeet nt
flower child
nBlumenkind nt

flower

:
flower garden
nBlumengarten m
flower girl
n
(= seller)Blumenmädchen nt
(at wedding etc) → Streukind nt
flower head
nBlütenkopf m

flower

:
flower people
plBlumenkinder pl
flowerpot
nBlumentopf m
flower power
nFlowerpower f, → Flower-Power f
flower-seller
nBlumenverkäufer(in) m(f)
flower shop
flower show
nBlumenschau f
flower stalk
nBlütenstiel m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

flower

[ˈflaʊəʳ]
1. nfiore m
in flower → in fiore
2. vifiorire
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

flower

(ˈflauə) noun
the part of a plant or tree from which fruit or seed grows, often brightly coloured and sometimes including the stem on which it grows. a bunch of flowers.
verb
(of plants etc) to produce flowers. This plant flowers in early May.
ˈflowered adjective
having a pattern of flowers. flowered material.
ˈflowery adjective
1. having, or decorated with, flowers. a flowery hat.
2. (of language) using ornamental words and phrases; poetic. a flowery speech.
ˈflower-bed noun
a piece of earth prepared and used for the growing of plants.
ˈflower-pot noun
a container made of earthenware, plastic etc in which a plant is grown.
in flower
(of a plant) having flowers in bloom. These trees are in flower in May.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

flower

زَهْرَة, يُزْهِرُ kvést, květina blomst, blomstre blühen, Blume ανθίζω, λουλούδι flor, florecer kukka, kukkia fleur, fleurir cvijet, cvjetati fiore, fiorire, 花が咲く, 꽃이 피다 bloeien, bloem blomst, blomstre kwiat, zakwitnąć flor, florescer цвести, цветок blomma ดอกไม้, ผลิดอก çiçek, çiçek açmak hoa, ra hoa 开花,
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

flower

n. flor, órgano reproductor de la planta.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
References in classic literature ?
THREE little Fairies sat in the fields eating their breakfast; each among the leaves of her favorite flower, Daisy, Primrose, and Violet, were happy as Elves need be.
And now go forth, and begin your task; my Spirits shall not harm you, and I will wait till it is done before I blight another flower."
[He opens his umbrella and dashes off Strandwards, but comes into collision with a flower girl, who is hurrying in for shelter, knocking her basket out of her hands.
They walked along as fast as they could, Dorothy only stopping once to pick a beautiful flower; and after a time the Tin Woodman cried out: "Look!"
Then it dawned on the Prince that he had been speaking to a good fairy, and putting the little bell carefully in his pocket, he rode home and told his father that he meant to set the daughter of the Flower Queen free, and intended setting out on the following day into the wide world in search of the maid.
Let us now suppose a little sweet juice or nectar to be excreted by the inner bases of the petals of a flower. In this case insects in seeking the nectar would get dusted with pollen, and would certainly often transport the pollen from one flower to the stigma of another flower.
"The more beautiful the flower is, the more does one offend God in despising it.
At last he dreamt one night that he found a beautiful purple flower, and that in the middle of it lay a costly pearl; and he dreamt that he plucked the flower, and went with it in his hand into the castle, and that everything he touched with it was disenchanted, and that there he found his Jorinda again.
In May and June come pinks of all sorts, specially the blushpink; roses of all kinds, except the musk, which comes later; honeysuckles; strawberries; bugloss; columbine; the French marigold, flos Africanus; cherry-tree in fruit; ribes; figs in fruit; rasps; vineflowers; lavender in flowers; the sweet satyrian, with the white flower; herba muscaria; lilium convallium; the apple-tree in blossom.
*And gemmy flower, of Trebizond misnam'd - Inmate of highest stars, where erst it sham'd All other loveliness : its honied dew(The fabled nectar that the heathen knew) Deliriously sweet, was dropp'd from Heaven, And fell on gardens of the unforgiven In Trebizond - and on a sunny flower So like its own above that, to this hour, It still remaineth, torturing the bee With madness, and unwonted reverie : In Heaven, and all its environs, the leaf And blossom of the fairy plant, in grief Disconsolate linger - grief that hangs her head, Repenting follies that full long have fled, Heaving her white breast to the balmy air, Like guilty beauty, chasten'd, and more fair : Nyctanthes too, as sacred as the light She fears to perfume, perfuming the night :
And every flake seemed larger, and appeared like a magnificent flower, or beautiful star; it was splendid to look at!
This is the flower of the Upas-tree, which usually grows only in the depths of forests; and the flower fades so quickly after being plucked, that it is scarcely possible to keep its form or colour even so far as the outskirts of the forest!