flower
noun
flow·er
| \ ˈflau̇(-ə)r
\
\
Definition of flower
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: the specialized part of an angiospermous plant that occurs singly or in clusters, possesses whorls of often colorful petals or sepals, and bears the reproductive structures (such as stamens or pistils) involved in the development of seeds and fruit : blossom
b
: a cluster of small flowers growing closely together that resembles and is often viewed as a single flower : inflorescence
a hydrangea flower
c
: a plant grown or valued for its flowers
planted flowers in the front yard
d
: a cut stem of a plant with its flower
a bouquet of flowers
e
: bloom entry 2 sense 1b
lilacs in full flower
2a
: the best part or example
the flower of our youth
b
: the finest most vigorous period
wasted the flower of their lives
c
: a state of blooming or flourishing
in full flower
3
flowers plural
: a finely divided powder produced especially by condensation or sublimation
flowers of sulfur
flower
verb
flowered;
flowering;
flowers
Definition of flower (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: develop
flowered into young womanhood
b
: flourish sense 2
Illustration of flower
Noun
cross section of flower 1b: 1 filament, 2 anther, 3 stigma, 4 style, 5 petal, 6 ovary, 7 sepal, 8 pedicel, 9 stamen, 10 pistil, 11 perianth
In the meaning defined above
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Other Words from flower
Noun
flowered
\ ˈflau̇(-ə)rd
\
adjective
\
adjective
flowerful
\ ˈflau̇(-ə)r-fəl
\
adjective
\
adjective
flowerless
\ ˈflau̇(-ə)r-ləs
\
adjective
\
adjective
flowerlike
\ ˈflau̇(-ə)r-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
Verb
flowerer
\ ˈflau̇(-ə)r-ər
\
noun
\
noun
Synonyms for flower
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
bloom, blossom, blow, burgeon (also bourgeon), effloresce, unfold
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Examples of flower in a Sentence
Noun
We planted flowers in the garden. He sent her a bouquet of flowers. He wore a single flower in his lapel.Verb
This tree flowers in early spring. The plant will flower every other year. His genius flowered at the university. a political movement that began to flower during the 1960s
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: American Heart Association, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220. — courant.com, "David Wasserman," 1 Sep. 2019 Dear Miss Manners: My boss received a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her birthday from a business vendor. — Judith Martin, Washington Post, "Miss Manners: Floral runaround could have been avoided," 29 Aug. 2019 More than 300 guests take their seats at long tables decorated with white linens and bunches of flowers. — Georgeanne Brennan, The Mercury News, "Yolo County’s pop-up feasts capture the art of farm-to-fork dining," 29 Aug. 2019 Key Talking Point Southampton may consider sending a bouquet of flowers to Andone. — SI.com, "Brighton 0-2 Southampton: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Saints Beat Seagulls After Andone Red Card," 24 Aug. 2019 How to attract and feed hummingbirds Diluted white sugar most closely resembles the sucrose nectar of flowers the birds feed on. — Jessica Pollock, The Conversation, "Curious kids: Why don’t hummingbirds get fat or sick from drinking sugary nectar?," 23 Aug. 2019 The couple in line ahead of us brought along a group of relatives, all dressed up and holding armloads of flowers. — Summer Block, Longreads, "Better Late," 23 Aug. 2019 Hops need a cold snap to make the plants go dormant, saving energy for the summer when the high temperatures stimulate the growth of flowers. — Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, "If this isn’t hop country, why is San Diego harvesting a bumper crop?," 19 Aug. 2019 Amid the array of flowers are 4,000 pots of foliage plants, including 95 kentia palms, native to Australia. — Joshua Miller, BostonGlobe.com, "Encore’s rich flora blooms thanks to one man’s botanic expertise," 18 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
For example, Granny Smith apple trees are flowering approximately four days earlier for each 1°C increase in temperature in Poland. — Jennifer Fitchett, Quartz Africa, "These scientists tracked South Africa’s sardine run over 66 years," 4 Aug. 2019 All of these crops will flower faster in warm weather. — Pam Peirce, SFChronicle.com, "It’s time for midsummer harvesting: Use it or lose it," 2 Aug. 2019 Country music may have flowered in the U.S., but its roots–including fiddle tunes and ballads from the British Isles, many of them songs about lost loves and premature death–lie on the other side of an ocean. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, "Country Music Crosses the Pond in Wild Rose," 20 June 2019 Her peonies prematurely finished their cycle, the summer lilies are flowering and the fireweed is nearly finished blooming. — Author: Lauren Ellenbecker, Anchorage Daily News, "9 super gardens will be open to the public this weekend for the Anchorage Garden Club tour," 25 July 2019 Others allow flowering branches and stems the free reign of the artist's arm-length gestures in a rhythmic pictorial dance that Claude Debussy could only attempt in music. — Dallas News, "Return of the Lilies: Monet makes a triumphant encore at the Kimbell," 28 June 2019 Dandelions are widely recognized as weeds, however, their peak flowering time in early spring is when many bees and other pollinators emerge and use dandelions as a food source. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "How to identify weeds and invasive species vs. ornamental plants," 20 June 2019 As hummingbirds dart among arbutus trees, the gardenias and carissa flowering beneath a jacaranda scent the air near the door. — Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, "A tranquil garden getaway amid the hustle and bustle of Westwood," 3 Aug. 2019 June 15 South Bay Begonia Society Annual Sale offers a variety of begonias as well as flowering shrubs, perennials, exotic plants, pots and garden art, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dana Middle School Auditorium, 5504 W. 135th St., Hawthorne. — Jeanette Marantos, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Gardening events: Begonias, orchids and tours of water-wise yards at historic homes.," 4 May 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flower.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.