flower
FLOW-uh
Flower (noun) means the colorful blooming part of a plant, often used for decoration or given as a gift. Example: “He picked a bunch of wildflowers for her birthday.”
noun
1
The colorful blooming part of a plant, often used for decoration or given as a gift.
"He picked a bunch of wildflowers for her birthday."
"The garden was full of flowers by early June."
"A single red flower stood in a glass on the kitchen windowsill."
2
The best or finest example of a group; the peak of something.
"These young athletes represent the flower of their generation."
"Only the flower of the city's youth was chosen to represent it at the festival."
"The choir was the flower of the school, admired by everyone who heard it."
verb
1
To produce blooms; to bloom.
"The cherry trees flower in early spring."
"If the weather stays warm, the roses will flower much earlier this year."
"Some cactus plants only flower once every few years, usually at night."
2
To reach full development or success.
"Her talent as a writer really flowered in her twenties."
"Their friendship flowered slowly over many long summers spent working side by side."
"With good teaching, a shy child can flower into a confident speaker."
How to use flower
Learner’s notes
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "flour" — same sound, unrelated modern meanings.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bunch of flowers
flower bed
in flower
flower of youth
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Word forms
- Plural
- flowers
- Third person singular
- flowers
- Past tense
- flowered
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The garden was full of _____ by early June.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman flur, from Latin florem, related to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to bloom." A doublet of "flour," since both trace back to the same idea of the "finest part" of something.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for flower
See all rhymes for flower →Frequently asked questions
What does “flower” mean?
The word “flower” means the colorful blooming part of a plant, often used for decoration or given as a gift.
How do you pronounce “flower”?
“Flower” is pronounced FLOW-uh (/ˈflaʊ̯.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “flower” in a sentence?
Here is “flower” used in a sentence: “He picked a bunch of wildflowers for her birthday.”
What is another word for “flower”?
Words with a similar meaning to “flower” include head, pseudanthium, bloom and blossom.
What part of speech is “flower”?
Depending on how it is used, “flower” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “flower” come from?
The word “flower” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman flur, from Latin florem, related to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to bloom." A doublet of "flour," since both trace back to the same idea of the "finest part" of something.
Is “flower” a common word?
“Flower” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “flower” have?
“Flower” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the colorful blooming part of a plant, often used for decoration or given as a gift.
What is the difference between 'flower' and 'flour'?
They sound the same but mean very different things. A 'flower' is the colorful blooming part of a plant, like a rose or a daisy. 'Flour' is the fine powder ground from wheat or other grains and used to bake bread, cakes, and pastries. They are homophones.
What are the parts of a flower?
A typical flower has petals, which are often brightly colored to attract insects; sepals, the small leaves protecting the bud; stamens, the male parts that produce pollen; and a pistil or carpel, the female part that receives it. Together these enable the plant to reproduce and form seeds.
What is the purpose of a flower on a plant?
Beyond looking attractive, a flower is the plant's reproductive structure. Its color and scent draw bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, which move pollen from one bloom to another. This fertilization allows the plant to produce seeds and fruit, ensuring the next generation of plants.
What is an example of a flower?
Common examples include roses, tulips, daisies, sunflowers, lilies, and orchids. Some flowers, such as roses and carnations, are grown mainly for bouquets and decoration, while others, like apple or cherry blossom, appear briefly on trees each spring before turning into fruit.
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