Adjacent Words

Flower definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FLOW'ER, n. [L. flos, floris, a flower; floreo, to blossom. See Flourish.]
1. In botany, that part of a plant which contains the organs of fructification, with their coverings. A flower, when complete, consists of a calyx, corol, stamen and pistil; but the essential parts are the anther and stigma, which are sufficient to constitute a flower, either together in hermaphrodite flowers, or separate in male and female flowers.
2. In vulgar acceptation, a blossom or flower is the flower bud of a plant, when the petals are expanded; open petals being considered as the principal thing in constituting a flower. But in botany, the petals are now considered as a finer sort of covering, and not at all necessary to constitute a flower.
3. The early part of life, or rather of manhood; the prime; youthful vigor; youth; as the flower of age or of life.
4. The best or finest part of a thing; the most valuable part. The most active and vigorous part of an army are called the flower of the troops. Young, vigorous and brave men are called the flower of a nation.
5. The finest part; the essence.
The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain.
6. He or that which is most distinguished for any thing valuable. We say, the youth are the flower of the country.
7. The finest part of grain pulverized. In this sense, it is now always written flour, which see.
1. Flowers, in chimistry, fine particles of bodies, especially when raised by fire in sublimation, and adhering to the heads of vessels in the form of a powder or mealy substance; as the flowers of sulphur.
A substance, somewhat similar, formed spontaneously, is called efforescence.
2. In rhetoric, figures and ornaments of discourse or composition.
3. Menstrual discharges.
FLOW'ER, v.i. [from the noun. The corresponding word in L. is floreo.]
1. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant. In New England peach trees usually flower in April, and apple trees in May.
2. To be in the prime and spring of life; to flourish; to be youthful, fresh and vigorous.
When flowered my youthful spring.
3. To froth; to ferment gently; to mantle, as new beer.
The beer did flower a little.
4. To come as cream from the surface.
FLOW'ER, v.t. To embellish with figures of flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
2: reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts [syn: flower, bloom, blossom]
3: the period of greatest prosperity or productivity [syn: flower, prime, peak, heyday, bloom, blossom, efflorescence, flush] v
1: produce or yield flowers; "The cherry tree bloomed" [syn: bloom, blossom, flower]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English flour flower, best of anything, flour, from Anglo-French flur, flour, flaur, from Latin flor-, flos — more at blow Date: 13th century 1. a. the part of a seed plant that normally bears reproductive organs ; blossom, inflorescence b. a shoot of the sporophyte of a higher plant that is modified for reproduction and consists of a shortened axis bearing modified leaves; especially one of a seed plant differentiated into a calyx, corolla, stamens, and carpels c. a plant cultivated for its blossoms 2. a. the best part or example <the flower of our youth> b. the finest most vigorous period c. a state of blooming or flourishing <in full flower> 3. plural a finely divided powder produced especially by condensation or sublimation <flowers of sulfur> • flowered adjective • flowerful adjective • flowerless adjective • flowerlike adjective II. verb Date: 13th century intransitive verb 1. a. develop <flowered into young womanhood> b. flourish 2 2. to produce flowers ; blossom transitive verb 1. to cause to bear flowers 2. to decorate with flowers or floral designs • flowerer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 the part of a plant from which the fruit or seed is developed. 2 the reproductive organ in a plant containing one or more pistils or stamens or both, and usu. a corolla and calyx. 3 a blossom, esp. on a stem and used in bunches for decoration. 4 a plant cultivated or noted for its flowers. 5 (in pl.) ornamental phrases (flowers of speech). --v. 1 intr. (of a plant) produce flowers; bloom or blossom. 2 intr. reach a peak. 3 tr. cause or allow (a plant) to flower. 4 tr. decorate with worked flowers or a floral design. Phrases and idioms: flower-bed a garden bed in which flowers are grown. flower-girl a woman who sells flowers, esp. in the street. flower-head = HEAD n. 4d. the flower of the best or best part of. flower people hippies carrying or wearing flowers as symbols of peace and love. flower power the ideas of the flower people regarded as an instrument in changing the world. flowers of sulphur Chem. a fine powder produced when sulphur evaporates and condenses. in flower with the flowers out. Derivatives: flowered adj. (also in comb.). flowerless adj. flowerlike adj. Etymology: ME f. AF flur, OF flour, flor, f. L flos floris

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Flower Flow"er, n. [OE. flour, OF. flour, flur, flor, F. fleur, fr. L. flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour, Flourish.] 1. In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the foliage. 2. (Bot.) That part of a plant destined to produce seed, and hence including one or both of the sexual organs; an organ or combination of the organs of reproduction, whether inclosed by a circle of foliar parts or not. A complete flower consists of two essential parts, the stamens and the pistil, and two floral envelopes, the corolla and callyx. In mosses the flowers consist of a few special leaves surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia. See Blossom, and Corolla.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Flower Flow"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flowered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flowering.] [From the noun. Cf. Flourish.] 1. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce flowers; as, this plant flowers in June. 2. To come into the finest or fairest condition. Their lusty and flowering age. --Robynson (More's Utopia). When flowered my youthful spring. --Spenser. 3. To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer. That beer did flower a little. --Bacon. 4. To come off as flowers by sublimation. [Obs.] Observations which have flowered off. --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Flower Flow"er, v. t. To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as, flowered silk.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(flowers, flowering, flowered) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. A flower is the part of a plant which is often brightly coloured, grows at the end of a stem, and only survives for a short time. Each individual flower is tiny. ...large, purplish-blue flowers. N-COUNT 2. A flower is a stem of a plant that has one or more flowers on it and has been picked, usually with others, for example to give as a present or to put in a vase. ...a bunch of flowers sent by a new admirer. N-COUNT: usu pl 3. Flowers are small plants that are grown for their flowers as opposed to trees, shrubs, and vegetables. ...a lawned area surrounded by plants and flowers... The flower garden will be ablaze with colour every day. N-COUNT: usu pl 4. When a plant or tree flowers, its flowers appear and open. Several of these rhododendrons will flower this year for the first time. VERB: V 5. When something flowers, for example a political movement or a relationship, it gets stronger and more successful. Their relationship flowered. = blossom VERB: V 6. When a plant is in flower or when it has come into flower, its flowers have appeared and opened. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, PHR after v 7. see also flowered

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Blossom, bloom. 2. Best part, finest part. 3. Prime, early vigor. 4. Figure, figure of speech, ornamental expression. II. v. n. Blossom, bloom, be in flower, put forth flowers.

Moby Thesaurus

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