flowering

1 of 2

adjective

flow·​er·​ing ˈflau̇(-ə)r-iŋ How to pronounce flowering (audio)
1
: producing or bearing flowers
a flowering cactus
a flowering branch
: capable of producing flowers
a collection of flowering plants
flowering trees
2
: covered with or full of flowers
a flowering meadow

flowering

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act or state of producing flowers : the period during which a plant produces flowers
the flowering of the iris
a plant that should be pruned only when flowering ends
Early flowering was followed by heat waves in July and August …James Suckling
2
: an unfolding or development
the gradual flowering of his talent
: a flourishing state or period of new development or growth
… when Christians, Muslims and Jews lived and worked together in peace and friendship, producing a rare flowering of art, science and commerce.Liesl Schillinger
… the theatre is a wonderful testimony to the city's artistic flowering in the era of art nouveau.Robert Fox

Examples of flowering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Is the chemistry of fern and flowering plant nectar the same? Jacob S. Suissa, The Conversation, 20 June 2024 But this recently discovered preserved pollen came from non-flowering gymnosperms, a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers such as pine, fir and spruce trees. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2023
Noun
Regular repotting promotes flowering and strong growth while supporting a decades-long life—some Christmas cactuses are passed down through generations! Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024 About a three-hour drive southeast from L.A., thousands flock each year to California’s largest state park to see its cacti flowering and its fields filled with other native blooms. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flowering 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flowering was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near flowering

Cite this Entry

“Flowering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flowering. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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