Definition of 'cornflower'

cornflower

(kɔːʳnflaʊəʳ )

Word forms: plural cornflowers

variable noun

Cornflowers are small plants with flowers that are usually blue.

Her eyes were a bright, cornflower blue.

Image of
cornflower

cornflower in British English

(ˈkɔːnˌflaʊə )

noun

a Eurasian herbaceous plant, Centaurea cyanus, with blue, purple, pink, or white flowers, formerly a common weed in cornfields: family Asteraceae ( composites)

Also called: bluebottle. See also bachelor's-buttons

cornflower in American English

(ˈkɔrnˌflaʊər )

noun

an annual plant (Centaurea cyanus) of the composite family, with tiny, raylike, white, pink, or blue flowers forming a round head at the top of the stem

cornflower in American English

(ˈkɔrnˌflauər)

noun

1. Also called: bachelor's-button, bluebottle

a European composite plant, Centaurea cyanus, growing in grainfields, having blue to white flower heads, often cultivated as an ornamental

2. Also called: cornflower blue

a deep, vivid blue

3. See corn cockle

4. strawflower (sense 2)

Word origin

[1570–80; corn1 + flower]

Examples of 'cornflower' in a sentence
cornflower

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

He was wearing a single-breasted suit -- very dark blue -- a cornflower blue shirt and a burgundy silk tie.She tossed her long plait over her shoulder and her cornflower blue eyes narrowed. Staring into her cornflower blue eyes he almost told her no.

Word lists with
cornflower

flower

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which flower am I?

any liliaceous perennial plant of the N temperate genus Lilium, such as the Turk's-cap lily and tiger lily, having scaly bulbs and showy typically pendulous flowers

lily violet water lily

Which flower am I?

any amaryllidaceous plant of the Eurasian genus Narcissus, esp N. poeticus, whose yellow, orange, or white flowers have a crown surrounded by spreading segments

jonquil narcissus snowdrop

Which flower am I?

any violaceous garden plant that is a variety of Viola tricolor, having flowers with rounded velvety petals, white, yellow, or purple in colour

heartsease pansy violet

Which flower am I?

a Eurasian caryophyllaceous plant, Dianthus caryophyllus, cultivated in many varieties for its white, pink, or red flowers, which have a fragrant scent of cloves

carnation pink sweet william

Which flower am I?

any of several evergreen ericaceous shrubs of the genus Gaultheria, esp G. procumbens, of E North America, which has white bell-shaped flowers and edible red berries

arbutus peony wintergreen

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