flower
n
a a bloom or blossom on a plant
b a plant that bears blooms or blossoms
2 the reproductive structure of angiosperm plants, consisting of stamens and carpels surrounded by petals and sepals all borne on the receptacle. In some plants it is conspicuous and brightly coloured and attracts insects for pollination
Related adj →
floral
Related prefix →
antho-
3 any similar reproductive structure in other plants
4 the prime; peak
in the flower of his youth
5 the choice or finest product, part, or representative
the flower of the young men
6 a decoration or embellishment
7 (Printing) a type ornament, used with others in borders, chapter headings, etc.
8 (Also called)
fleuron an embellishment or ornamental symbol depicting a flower
9 pl fine powder, usually produced by sublimation
flowers of sulphur
vb
10 intr to produce flowers; bloom
11 intr to reach full growth or maturity
12 tr to deck or decorate with flowers or floral designs (C13: from Old French flor, from Latin flos; see blow3) ♦
flower-like adj
Bach flower remedy
n Trademark an alternative medicine consisting of a distillation from various flowers, designed to counteract negative states of mind and restore emotional balance
(C20: after Dr E. Bach (1886--1936), homeopath who developed this system)
cardinal flower
n a campanulaceous plant, Lobelia cardinalis of E North America, that has brilliant scarlet, pink, or white flowers
carrion flower
n
1 a liliaceous climbing plant, Smilax herbacea of E North America, whose small green flowers smell like decaying flesh
2 any of several other plants, esp. any of the genus Stapelia, whose flowers have an unpleasant odour
cartwheel flower
n another name for →
giant hogweed
compound flower
n a flower head made up of many small flowers appearing as a single bloom, as in the daisy
disc flower , floret
n any of the small tubular flowers at the centre of the flower head of certain composite plants, such as the daisy
Compare →
ray flower
flannel flower
n any Australian plant of the umbelliferous genus Actinotus having white flannel-like bracts beneath the flowers
flower bug
n any of a number of bugs of the family Cimicidae, related to the debris bugs but frequenting flowers and feeding on the small insects found there
flower-de-luce
n pl , flowers-de-luce an archaic name for the iris (sense 2) and lily (sense 1)
(C16: anglicized variant of French fleur de lis)
flower girl
n
1 a girl or woman who sells flowers in the street
2 (U.S. and Scot) a young girl who carries flowers in a procession, esp. at weddings
flower head
n an inflorescence in which stalkless florets are crowded together at the tip of the stem
flower-of-an-hour
n a malvaceous Old World herbaceous plant, Hibiscus trionum, having pale yellow flowers with a bladder-like calyx, (Also called)
bladder ketmia
flower-pecker
n any small songbird of the family Dicaeidae, of SE Asia and Australasia, typically feeding on nectar, berries, and insects
flower power
n
Informal a youth cult of the late 1960s advocating peace and love, using the flower as a symbol; associated with drug-taking. Its adherents were known as flower children or flower people
moccasin flower
n any of several North American orchids of the genus Cypripedium with a pink solitary flower
See also →
lady's-slipper →
cypripedium →
1
monkey flower
n any of various scrophulariaceous plants of the genus Mimulus, cultivated for their yellow or red flowers
See also →
musk →
3
orange flower water
n a distilled infusion of orange blossom, used in cakes, confectionery, etc.
paschal flower
n another name for →
pasqueflower
ray flower , floret
n any of the small strap-shaped flowers in the flower head of certain composite plants, such as the daisy
Compare →
disc flower
treasure flower
n another name for →
gazania
trumpet flower
n
1 any of various plants having trumpet-shaped flowers
2 the flower of any of these plants
Venus's flower basket
n any of several deep-sea sponges of the genus Euplectella, esp. E. aspergillum, having a skeleton composed of interwoven glassy six-rayed spicules
wax flower
n (Austral) any of several rutaceous shrubs of the genus Eriostemon, having waxy pink-white five-petalled flowers
wild flower
n
1 any flowering plant that grows in an uncultivated state
2 the flower of such a plant