name

Mayflower

Mayflower (name) means the ship that carried the English Pilgrims across the Atlantic to found Plymouth Colony in 1620. Example: “The Mayflower landed on the coast of what would become Massachusetts.”

name

The ship that carried the English Pilgrims across the Atlantic to found Plymouth Colony in 1620.

"The Mayflower landed on the coast of what would become Massachusetts."

"Descendants of Mayflower passengers still trace their lineage today."

noun

Any of several early-blooming plants, such as hawthorn in Britain or trailing arbutus in North America.

"Mayflowers were among the first blooms to appear after the long winter."

"She picked a small bunch of wild mayflowers along the path."

How to use Mayflower

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the famous Pilgrim ship, or a springtime flowering plant, depending on context.

Common mistake

Capitalise it when referring to the historical ship; lowercase when talking about the plant.

Word forms

mayflowers plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ landed on the coast of what would become Massachusetts.

Etymology

From "May" (the month) + "flower" — either the ship named for the season, or the plants that bloom in it.

Rhymes for Mayflower

tower power lower bower mower cower Gower flower blower shower slower grower

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Mayflower” mean?

The word “Mayflower” means the ship that carried the English Pilgrims across the Atlantic to found Plymouth Colony in 1620. In plain terms, either the famous Pilgrim ship, or a springtime flowering plant, depending on context.

How do you use “Mayflower” in a sentence?

Here is “Mayflower” used in a sentence: “The Mayflower landed on the coast of what would become Massachusetts.”

What part of speech is “Mayflower”?

Depending on how it is used, “Mayflower” can be a name and a noun.

How many meanings does “Mayflower” have?

“Mayflower” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ship that carried the English Pilgrims across the Atlantic to found Plymouth Colony in 1620.