Definition of 'flower'
Word forms: flowers, flowering, flowered
1. countable noun
A flower is the part of a plant which is often brightly
colored, grows at the end of a stem, and only survives for a short time.
2. countable noun
3. countable noun
4. intransitive verb
When a plant or tree flowers, its flowers appear and open.
5. intransitive verb
When something flowers, for example, a political movement or a relationship, it gets stronger and more successful.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Image of
flower
© Le Do, shutterstock
Video: pronunciation of
flower
Word Frequency
flower 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
bloom1Word Frequency
flower 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]Word Frequency
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 blow3Examples 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?
any of the hollow hairlike outgrowths of the outer cells of a root, just behind the tip, that absorb water and salts from the soil
Which term used in botany am I?
a dry one-seeded indehiscent fruit that usually possesses a woody wall
Which term used in botany am I?
the male reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of a stalk (filament) bearing an anther in which pollen is produced
Which term used in botany am I?
the transfer of pollen from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another flower by the action of wind, insects, etc
Which term used in botany am I?
any of various small edible fruits such as the blackberry and strawberry
Your score:
Trends of
flower
View usage over:
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Spanish: florecer
- Swedish: blomma
- Thai: ผลิดอก
- Turkish: çiçek açmak
- Ukrainian: квітнути
- Vietnamese: ra hoa
Nearby words of
flower
Related terms of
flower
Source
Definition of flower from the
Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
tea or tee?
Which version is correct?
feat or feet?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
feet
feat
I had aching arms and sore .
aisle or isle?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
aisle
isle
I found myself in the frozen food .
rain or reign or rein?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
rain
reign
rein
We had to stand out in the .
leak or leek?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
leek
leak
Add the diced onion, carrot and .
Your score:
Word of the day
inaugurate
When a new leader is inaugurated , they are formally given their new position at an official ceremony .
Latest Word Submissions
well begun is hal...
Jan 20, 2021
Trumpeteer
Jan 20, 2021
level up [sense]
Jan 20, 2021
third country
Jan 20, 2021
Ten US political terms to baffle Brits
The United States will inaugurate a new president on January 20th when Joe Biden will be sworn in as the forty-sixth person to hold the office.
Read more
Study guides for every stage of your learning journey
Whether you're in search of a crossword puzzle, a detailed guide to tying knots, or tips on writing the perfect college essay, Harper Reference has you covered for all your study needs.
Read more
From filk to derp: discover the latest words added to the Collins Dictionary
Why do we need to keep adding new words to the English language? Can’t we just make do with the ones we have already? These are reasonable questions, but the fact is that new words do keep entering the language. To illustrate why this happens, let’s look at a cross-section of the words that have been added to the Collins Dictionary this month.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Updating our Usage
There are many diverse influences on the way that English is used across the world today. We look at some of the ways in which the language is changing. Read our series of blogs to find out more.
Read more
Area 51, Starship, and Harvest Moon: September’s Words in the News
I’m sure a lot of people would agree that we live in strange times. But do they have to be so strange that Area 51 is making headlines? And what’s this about fish the look like aliens. September’s Words in the News explain all.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
council or counsel?
Which version is correct?
gamble or gambol?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
gamble
gambol
They are not prepared to their careers.
gave or given?
Which version is correct?
canvas or canvass?
Which version is correct?
complement or compliment?
Which version is correct?
Your score: