flower

1 of 2

noun

flow·​er ˈflau̇(-ə)r 

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

flowered

ˈflau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

flowerful

ˈflau̇(-ə)r-fəl 

adjective

flowerless

ˈflau̇(-ə)r-ləs 

adjective

flowerlike

ˈflau̇(-ə)r-ˌlīk 

adjective

Illustration of flower

• 1 filament
• 2 anther
• 3 stigma
• 4 style
• 5 petal
• 6 ovary
• 7 sepal
• 8 pedicel
• 9 stamen
• 10 pistil
• 11 perianth

flower

2 of 2

verb

flowered; flowering; flowers

intransitive verb

1

a

: develop

flowered into young womanhood

b

: flourish sense 2

2

: to produce flowers : blossom

transitive verb

1

: to cause to bear flowers

2

: to decorate with flowers or floral designs

flowerer

ˈflau̇(-ə)r-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• bloom
• blossom

Verb

• bloom
• blossom
• blow
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• effloresce
• unfold

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

Back in 2018, Kaws made a spectacular statement with his towering figure made of 70,000 flowers. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024

An artist customized children’s new kicks per request, painting their names, flowers, and basketballs. —Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

Her latest conservation target is a flowering tree that’s fighting a losing battle in the wild: the Gardenia brighamii, or, as it’s known among some local communities, the na’u. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024

This dynamic—in which a bee feeds on a flower’s nectar and gathers pollen to feed larvae, and also propagates pollen from flower to flower, enabling plant reproduction—was already well established. —Max G. Levy, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flour, flur "blossom of a plant, prime of life, best of a class, ground grain free of bran," borrowed from Anglo-French flour, flur (also continental Old French), going back to Latin flōr-, flōs "flower, bloom, flourishing condition, choicest part, best of a class," going back to Indo-European *b^hleh₃-os, s-stem derivative from the verbal base *b^hleh₃- "bloom, break into flower" — more at blow entry 3

Verb

Middle English flouren "(of a plant) to blossom, to bloom, be vigourous," derivative of flour, flur flour entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing flower

• ball-flower
• balloon flower
• cardinal flower
• cartwheel flower
• come into flower
• corpse flower
• disk flower
• flower bed
• flower bud
• flower bug
• flower child
• flower girl
• flower head
• flower people
• flower power
• in flower
• in full flower
• in the flower of one's youth
• moccasin flower
• peacock flower
• pincushion flower
• pinxter flower
• ray flower
• state flower
• trumpet flower
• Venus's flower-basket

Kids Definition

flower

1 of 2 noun

flow·​er ˈflau̇(-ə)r 

1

a

: a specialized plant part that occurs singly or in clusters, possesses often colorful petals or sepals, and bears reproductive organs 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

d

: a cut stem of a plant with its flower

a bouquet of flowers

2

: the best part or example

in the flower of his youth

flowerless

-ləs 

adjective

flowerlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

flower

2 of 2 verb

1

: to produce flowers : bloom

2

: flourish entry 1 sense 1

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flour "flower, best part," from early French flor, flour (same meaning), from Latin flor-, flos "flower, blossom" — related to florid, flour, flourish