Definition of 'flower'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present
tense flowers
, present participle flowering
, past tense, past participle flowered
1. countable noun
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.
2. countable noun [usually plural]
3. countable noun [usually plural]
Flowers are small plants that are grown for their flowers as opposed to trees, shrubs, and vegetables.
4. verb
5. verb
When something flowers, for example a political movement or a relationship, it gets stronger and more successful.
6. singular noun [the NOUN of noun]
7.
See in flower
8. See also flowered
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Image of
flower
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Video: pronunciation of
flower
flower in British English
noun
2.
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
▶ Related adjective: floral ▶ Related prefix: antho- 3.
any similar reproductive structure in other plants
6.
a decoration or embellishment
verb
10. (intransitive)
to produce flowers; bloom
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
flower-like (ˈflower-ˌlike) adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French flor, from Latin flōs; see blow3flower in American English
noun
1.
a.
b.
a blossom; bloom
c.
the reproductive structure of any plant
2.
a plant cultivated for its blossoms; flowering plant
3.
the best or finest part or example
the flower of a country's youth
4.
the best period of a person or thing; time of flourishing
5.
something decorative; esp., a figure of speech
verb intransitive
7.
to produce blossoms; bloom
verb transitive
9.
to decorate with flowers or floral patterns
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
flowerless (ˈflowerless)
adjective
flowerlike (ˈflowerˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
ME flowre, flour, OFr flor, flour (Fr fleur) < L flos (gen. floris), a flower: see bloom1flower in American English
(ˈflauər)
noun
1.
the blossom of a plant
2. Botany
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
4.
state of efflorescence or bloom
Peonies were in flower
5.
an ornament representing a flower
6. Also called: fleuron, floret Printing
7.
an ornament or adornment
8.
the finest or most flourishing period
Poetic drama was in flower in Elizabethan England
10.
the finest or choicest product or example
11. See flowers
intransitive verb
12.
to produce flowers; blossom; come to full bloom
13.
to come out into full development; mature
transitive verb
14.
to cover or deck with flowers
15.
to decorate with a floral design
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1150–1200; ME flour flower, best of anything ‹ OF flor, flour, flur ‹ L flōr- (s. of flōs). Cf. blossom]Examples of 'flower' in a sentence
flower
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Quotations
' Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone'Tis the last rose of Summer
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone'Tis the last rose of Summer
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
It pays no heed to itself, and does not care whether it is seen
The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of lifeThe Enchanted
O my love's like a red, red roseA Red, Red Rose
Word lists with
flower
affection, terms used in botanyQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which term used in botany am I?
a mature fertilized plant ovule, consisting of an embryo and its food store surrounded by a protective seed coat (testa)
Which term used in botany am I?
a systematic list of taxonomic characteristics, used to identify animals or plants
Which term used in botany am I?
the response of an organism, esp a plant, to an external stimulus by growth in a direction determined by the stimulus
Which term used in botany am I?
the enlarged or modified tip of the flower stalk that bears the parts of the flower
Which term used in botany am I?
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants, usually consisting of a flat green blade attached to the stem directly or by a stalk
Your score:
Trends of
flower
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In other languages
flower
British English: flower
/ˈflaʊə/ NOUN
A flower is the brightly coloured part of a plant which grows at the end of a stem.
...a bunch of flowers.
- American English: flower /ˈflaʊər/
- Arabic: زَهْرَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: flor
- Chinese: 花
- Croatian: cvijet
- Czech: květina
- Danish: blomst
- Dutch: bloem plant
- European Spanish: flor
- Finnish: kukka
- French: fleur
- German: Blume
- Greek: λουλούδι
- Italian: fiore
- Japanese: 花
- Korean: 꽃
- Norwegian: blomst
- Polish: kwiat
- European Portuguese: flor
- Romanian: floare
- Russian: цветок
- Latin American Spanish: flor
- Swedish: blomma
- Thai: ดอกไม้
- Turkish: çiçek
- Ukrainian: квітка
- Vietnamese: hoa
British English: flower
/ˈflaʊə/ VERB
When a plant or tree flowers, its flowers appear and open.
Several of these rhododendrons will flower this year for the first time.
- American English: flower /ˈflaʊər/
- Arabic: يُزْهِرُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: florescer
- Chinese: 开花
- Croatian: cvjetati
- Czech: kvést
- Danish: blomstre
- Dutch: bloeien
- European Spanish: florecer
- Finnish: kukkia
- French: fleurir
- German: blühen
- Greek: ανθίζω
- Italian: fiorire
- Japanese: 花が咲く
- Korean: 꽃이 피다
- Norwegian: blomstre
- Polish: zakwitnąć
- European Portuguese: florescer
- Romanian: a înflori
- Russian: цвести
- Latin American Spanish: florecer
- Swedish: blomma
- Thai: ผลิดอก
- Turkish: çiçek açmak
- Ukrainian: квітнути
- Vietnamese: ra hoa
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Related terms of
flower
Source
Definition of flower from the Collins English Dictionary
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cymbal or symbol?
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symbol
cymbal
A dove is a of peace.
bloc or block?
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block
bloc
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threw or through?
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threw
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forth or fourth?
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fourth
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peal or peel?
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peel
peal
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