: 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
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 in Abe’s name to a charity of choice, the obituary says..—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 July 2024 Advertisement On Sunday, a bouquet of flowers sat on the trailhead in memory of Nguyen.—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024
Verb
The sticks, the older one about 40 centimeters long and the younger one about half that length, came from two species of Casuarina, flowering pine trees native to Australia with a long history of ceremonial use.—science.org, 3 July 2024 Occasionally mowing a dormant lawn on a high setting can help prevent taller weeds from flowering and setting seeds.—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for flower
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 *bhleh3-os, s-stem derivative from the verbal base *bhleh3- "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, flurflour entry 1
: 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
Middle English flour "flower, best part," from early French flor, flour (same meaning), from Latin flor-, flos "flower, blossom" — related to florid, flour, flourish
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