Illustration of flower
- 1 filament
- 2 anther
- 3 stigma
- 4 style
- 5 petal
- 6 ovary
- 7 sepal
- 8 pedicel
- 9 stamen
- 10 pistil
- 11 perianth
flow·er
ˈflau̇(-ə)r 
1
a
: 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
a hydrangea flower
c
: a plant grown or valued for its flowers
planted flowers in the front yard
d
: a cut stem of a plant with its flower
a bouquet of flowers
e
: bloom entry 2 sense 1b
lilacs in full flower
2
a
: the best part or example
the flower of our youth
b
: the finest most vigorous period
wasted the flower of their lives
c
: a state of blooming or flourishing
in full flower
3
flowers plural
: a finely divided powder produced especially by condensation or sublimation
flowers of sulfur
Synonyms
Examples of flower in a Sentence
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
Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Check these metro Phoenix stores and libraries Adults of age can possess up to an ounce of flower and five grams of concentrate, which includes forms like the hash oil inside a marijuana vape pen.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Around 1485, Memling painted a jug of flowers on the reverse side of a portrait of a young man, creating one of the first still lifes in European history.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Instead of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to the John Wesly Coleman Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund, a memorial set up in Coleman's name at Finneytown High School.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
One of my favorite ways to inject a complementary color in a room is with a simple bunch of single-color flowers, orange tulips in a pale blue bedroom, say, or pink roses in a hunter green study.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
This feeder also has five feeding ports in the shape of red flowers and a circular perch, too.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
The charity fundraiser was founded by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1954 and features thousands of the late royal’s favorite flowers, roses.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Tones of beige dominated with only one bright pop of color: pink bougainvillea flowers.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
It’s been an evolution of nearly a decade, say Zamora and Rojas, but today, their backyard boasts a deck rimmed with pots of colorful succulents and wide water-permeable paths of flagstone and river pebbles, lined with fragrant plantings of California native trees and flowering shrubs.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Wedding invites and flowering trees aside, this spring seems to be blossoming with It girlies’ album releases.
—Chelsea Daniel, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
Lahr Native Plant Symposium and Native Plant Sale at the U.S. National Arboretum
Need a break from flowering Japanese trees this weekend?
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Since these plants finish flowering by June or earlier, stems can be cut back as desired around late spring.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2024
Stewart recommends camellia oil, a Japanese oil extracted from the seed of a flowering shrub, to lubricate moving parts of tools and protect them from rusting with a preventative coating.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
Beyond the cherry blossoms, spring is still young and many more trees and plants have yet to flower — the Yoshino cherries are among the first to bloom.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Top Stories The girl bosses began dying almost immediately after flowering.
—Abigail Anthony, National Review, 11 Feb. 2024
Noun
Her blazer and pants had a hint of floral, with a spray of flowers on one shoulder and one pant leg.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Check these metro Phoenix stores and libraries Adults of age can possess up to an ounce of flower and five grams of concentrate, which includes forms like the hash oil inside a marijuana vape pen.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
Around 1485, Memling painted a jug of flowers on the reverse side of a portrait of a young man, creating one of the first still lifes in European history.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Instead of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to the John Wesly Coleman Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund, a memorial set up in Coleman's name at Finneytown High School.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
One of my favorite ways to inject a complementary color in a room is with a simple bunch of single-color flowers, orange tulips in a pale blue bedroom, say, or pink roses in a hunter green study.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
This feeder also has five feeding ports in the shape of red flowers and a circular perch, too.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
The charity fundraiser was founded by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1954 and features thousands of the late royal’s favorite flowers, roses.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Tones of beige dominated with only one bright pop of color: pink bougainvillea flowers.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
This tender white flowering shrub makes any garden look classic and timeless.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
It’s been an evolution of nearly a decade, say Zamora and Rojas, but today, their backyard boasts a deck rimmed with pots of colorful succulents and wide water-permeable paths of flagstone and river pebbles, lined with fragrant plantings of California native trees and flowering shrubs.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Wedding invites and flowering trees aside, this spring seems to be blossoming with It girlies’ album releases.
—Chelsea Daniel, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024
Lahr Native Plant Symposium and Native Plant Sale at the U.S. National Arboretum
Need a break from flowering Japanese trees this weekend?
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024
Since these plants finish flowering by June or earlier, stems can be cut back as desired around late spring.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2024
Stewart recommends camellia oil, a Japanese oil extracted from the seed of a flowering shrub, to lubricate moving parts of tools and protect them from rusting with a preventative coating.
—Halee Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2024
Beyond the cherry blossoms, spring is still young and many more trees and plants have yet to flower — the Yoshino cherries are among the first to bloom.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024
Top Stories The girl bosses began dying almost immediately after flowering.
—Abigail Anthony, National Review, 11 Feb. 2024
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, flur flour entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of flower was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing flower
Dictionary Entries Near flower
Cite this Entry
“Flower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flower. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
flower
1 of 2 noun
flow·er
ˈflau̇(-ə)r
1
a
: 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
a hydrangea flower
c
: a plant grown or valued for its flowers
planted flowers
d
: a cut stem of a plant with its flower
a bouquet of flowers
2
: the best part or example
in the flower of his youth
flower
2 of 2 verb1
: to produce flowers : bloom
More from Merriam-Webster on flower
Nglish: Translation of flower for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of flower for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flower
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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