Adjacent Words

gladiolus definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of numerous plants of the genus Gladiolus native chiefly to tropical and South Africa having sword-shaped leaves and one-sided spikes of brightly colored funnel- shaped flowers; widely cultivated [syn: gladiolus, gladiola, glad, sword lily]
2: the large central part of the breastbone [syn: gladiolus, corpus sternum]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural gladioli) Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, gladiolus, from diminutive of gladius Date: 15th century 1. or plural gladiolus also gladioluses any of a genus (Gladiolus) of chiefly African perennial plants of the iris family with erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from corms 2. the large middle portion of the sternum

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. gladioli or gladioluses) any iridaceous plant of the genus Gladiolus with sword-shaped leaves and usu. brightly coloured flower-spikes. Etymology: L, dimin. of gladius sword

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gladiolus Gla*di"o*lus, n.; pl. L. Gladioli, E. Gladioluses. [L. See Gladiole.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of plants having bulbous roots and gladiate leaves, and including many species, some of which are cultivated and valued for the beauty of their flowers; the corn flag; the sword lily. 2. (Anat.) The middle portion of the sternum in some animals; the mesosternum.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(gladioli) A gladiolus is a type of plant with long thin leaves and several large brightly coloured flowers. N-COUNT