Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Flower

//ˈflaʊ.ə// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
A surname. countable, uncountable
2
An unincorporated community in Braxton County, West Virginia, United States. countable, uncountable

Noun

1
A colorful, conspicuous structure associated with angiosperms, frequently scented and attracting various insects, and which may or may not be used for sexual reproduction. countable, uncountable
"O Laurinella! little doſt thou wot / How fraile a flower thou doſt ſo highly prize: / Beauty's the flower, but love the flower-pot / That muſt preſerve it, els it quickly dyes."
2
Something that flows, such as a river. rare
"Leaving the weavers’ village behind you, and crossing the sandy bed of the Vengavati or ‘Swift-flower,’ which, however, contained not a drop of water, you reach the ancient Jain temple."
3
reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts wordnet
4
A reproductive structure in angiosperms (flowering plants), often conspicuously colourful and typically including sepals, petals, and either or both stamens and/or a pistil. countable, uncountable
"You know, Darwin studied their fertilisation, and showed that the whole structure of an ordinary orchid flower was contrived in order that moths might carry the pollen from plant to plant."
5
a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms wordnet

Show 15 more definitions

6
A plant that bears flowers, especially a plant that is small and lacks wood. countable, uncountable
"We transplanted the flowers to a larger pot."
7
the period of greatest prosperity or productivity wordnet
8
The stem of a flowering plant with the blossom or blossoms attached, used for decoration, as a gift, etc. countable, uncountable
"He always keeps a vase full of flowers in his office."
9
Of plants, a state of bearing blooms. uncountable, usually
"The dogwoods are in flower this week."
10
The vulva, especially the labia majora. countable, euphemistic, familiar, uncountable
"[F]or ſtill, that my virgin-flower was yet uncrop'd never once enter'd into his head, and he would have thought it idling with time and words to have queſtion'd me upon it."
11
The best examples or representatives of a group. countable, uncountable
"At Floddon hyllys, / Our bowys, our byllys / Slew all the floure / Of theyr honoure."
12
The best state of things; the prime. countable, uncountable
"She was in the flower of her life."
13
Flour. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"The Flovvers of Grains mix'd vvith VVater vvill make a ſort of Glue."
14
A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation. countable, in-plural, obsolete, uncountable
"the flowers of sulphur"
15
A figure of speech; an ornament of style. countable, uncountable
16
Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc. countable, uncountable
"I pointed out to the late Mr. Catherwood, of the firm of Caslon and Catherwood, the inconvenience of both these modes of cutting flowers,"
17
Menstrual discharges. countable, in-plural, obsolete, uncountable
"And if any man lye with her at all, and her flowers be vpon him, hee shall be vncleane seuen dayes: and all the bed whereon he lyeth, shall be vncleane."
18
A delicate, fragile, or oversensitive person. countable, uncountable
"[…] she whispered leaning over and kissing her forehead; and then added, 'Mummy loves you, precious flower.'"
19
Credit, recognition. countable, figuratively, in-plural, uncountable
"to give someone his flowers; to get one's flowers"
20
Cannabis. slang, uncountable

Verb

1
To put forth blooms. intransitive
"This plant flowers in June."
2
produce or yield flowers wordnet
3
To decorate with pictures of flowers. transitive
4
To reach a state of full development or achievement. intransitive
"when flowr'd my youthful spring"
5
To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer. archaic, intransitive
"That beer did flower a little."

Show 1 more definition

6
To come off as flowers by sublimation. intransitive
"observations which have flowered off"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English flour, from Anglo-Norman flur, from Latin flōrem, accusative of flōs, from Proto-Italic *flōs, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (“to thrive, bloom”). Doublet of fleur, flor, flour, bloom, and blossom. Partly displaced native Old English blostma (which is cognate), whence Modern English blossom.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

From flow + -er.

Etymology 4

* As an occupational English surname, from the noun flower, and sometimes flour. * Also as an English surname, from Middle English flo (“arrow”). * Also as an English surname, variant of Floor, itself from the noun floor. * As a Welsh surname, Anglicized from Llywarch.

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: flower