flax

noun, often attributive \ ˈflaks \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Definition of flax

1 : any of a genus (Linum of the family Linaceae, the flax family) of herbs; especially : a slender erect annual (L. usitatissimum) with blue flowers commonly cultivated for its bast fiber and seed

2 : the fiber of the flax plant especially when prepared for spinning

3 : any of several plants resembling flax

—

flaxy

play \ˈflak-sē\ adjective

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Recent Examples of flax from the Web

Fire Island is an altar to bread, with classics like Alaska whole wheat and Fire Island sourdough turned out daily and specials like challah, plum flax, and sprouted grain offered on specific weekdays.

— genevieve roth, Bon Appetit, "Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop Gets Me Through the Long Alaskan Winter," 6 June 2018
Tahini Maple Oat Bites Makes 10 servings Ingredients • 1 1/2 cup oats, separated • 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon tahini • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup • 1 tablespoon flax seeds • 1/4 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips Preparation 1.

— NBC News, "What you should eat before a workout," 6 June 2018
Nearly all of his playful spring/summer line is flax-based.

— alex williams, New York Times, "A Brooklyn Designer Who Is All About Linen," 1 June 2018
Add the flax to the burger mixture along with the cornstarch and stir well to combine.

— chris morocco, Bon Appetit, "A Veggie Burger Recipe That Doesn't Have 15 Ingredients for Once," 20 June 2018
Additionally, the fat in flaxseed can help slow the rise in blood sugar when flax is consumed with carbohydrate-rich foods.

— lisa drayer, CNN, "Foods that can suppress appetite, aid weight loss," 8 Mar. 2018
Raw Strawberry Matcha Oatmeal 3/4 cup raw oats 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon flax seeds 1 cup nut milk (your choice on type) 1/3 teaspoon Healing Butterfly Matcha Green Tea Powder Fresh strawberries to taste Agave or maple syrup to taste 1.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Healing Butterfly spices up matcha with tasty flavors," 4 June 2018
Breakfast is millet with flax, almonds and hemp milk.

— jen murphy, WSJ, "She Hits New Heights to Get More Flexible," 24 Mar. 2018
Woven in Portugal from super-soft Belgian flax, these sheets have been sold out for months and at one point even had a 5,000 person-long waitlist.

— lyndsey matthews, Good Housekeeping, "Those Brooklinen Sheets With a 5,000 Person Waitlist Are Finally Back in Stock," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flax.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flax

Middle English, from Old English fleax; akin to Old High German flahs flax, Latin plectere to braid — more at ply

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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FLAX Defined for English Language Learners

flax

noun

Definition of flax for English Language Learners

: a plant that has blue flowers and that is grown for its fiber and its seed
: the fiber of the flax plant

FLAX Defined for Kids

flax

noun \ ˈflaks \

Definition of flax for Students

: a plant with blue flowers that is grown for its fiber from which rope and linen is made and for its seed from which oil and livestock feed are obtained

Learn More about flax

See words that rhyme with flax Spanish Central: Translation of flax Nglish: Translation of flax for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flax

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