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
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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
flowered; flowering; flowers
Synonyms
Example Sentences
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 10 Jan. 2023
Lavender flower crowns are the ultimate arts and crafts activity.
—Karen Cicero, Good Housekeeping, 19 Dec. 2022
Lily reached into a shopping bag and pulled out three flower crowns.
—David Gilbert, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022
But as in years past at the festival, kids lined up excitedly to recite poetry in stumbling Ukrainian and dance in bright red leather boots, velvet red vests and flower crowns of pink and blue, gold and green.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2022
Many wore elaborate flower crowns on their heads and traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka—embroidered shirts or dresses—in an assortment of colors.
—Andrea Stanley, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2022
Some women wore black funeral attire and sported flower crowns.
—Reuters, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2022
Hambro, then 5, and Cameron, 6, were the youngest of the group, and also wore flower crowns to match their bouquets.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022
The hourslong affair began with a nonlegal, symbolic ceremony, before which event staff handed out bouquets and flower crowns to some revelers, while others got henna tattoos and posed for photographs under rainbow streamers and treetop lanterns.
—New York Times, 26 July 2022
Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2023
Short days and cool nights signal the plant to produce blossoms at the end of each stem, which then flower in shades of pink and red, depending on the variety.
—Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 20 Dec. 2022
The plant blooms heaviest in fall but can flower sporadically year-round.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Nov. 2022
Examples of shrubs that flower on new growth include crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia species), beauty berry (Callicarpa species) and butterfly bush (Buddleia species).
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 22 Oct. 2022
Many summer-blooming shrubs set their flowers on the current season’s growth so they can be pruned heavily in winter and will usually still flower the following summer.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 22 Oct. 2022
The good news, however, is new plants, called pups, can form at the base to flower in not a century, but about 10 or so years.
—Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022
The effort was launched in July 2020, showing what can flower when neighbors unite.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022
Nutsedge will flower and produce seeds when not mowed, but the seeds generally do not germinate.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022
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Noun
California's Coachella Valley is readying itself for another invasion of flower crowns and pop superstars with the announcement of this year's headliners.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 10 Jan. 2023
Lavender flower crowns are the ultimate arts and crafts activity.
—Karen Cicero, Good Housekeeping, 19 Dec. 2022
Lily reached into a shopping bag and pulled out three flower crowns.
—David Gilbert, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022
But as in years past at the festival, kids lined up excitedly to recite poetry in stumbling Ukrainian and dance in bright red leather boots, velvet red vests and flower crowns of pink and blue, gold and green.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2022
Many wore elaborate flower crowns on their heads and traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka—embroidered shirts or dresses—in an assortment of colors.
—Andrea Stanley, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2022
Some women wore black funeral attire and sported flower crowns.
—Reuters, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2022
Hambro, then 5, and Cameron, 6, were the youngest of the group, and also wore flower crowns to match their bouquets.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022
The hourslong affair began with a nonlegal, symbolic ceremony, before which event staff handed out bouquets and flower crowns to some revelers, while others got henna tattoos and posed for photographs under rainbow streamers and treetop lanterns.
—New York Times, 26 July 2022
Verb
This thoughtful gift should continue to flower for years.
—Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2023
Short days and cool nights signal the plant to produce blossoms at the end of each stem, which then flower in shades of pink and red, depending on the variety.
—Susan Brownstein, cleveland, 20 Dec. 2022
The plant blooms heaviest in fall but can flower sporadically year-round.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Nov. 2022
Examples of shrubs that flower on new growth include crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia species), beauty berry (Callicarpa species) and butterfly bush (Buddleia species).
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 22 Oct. 2022
Many summer-blooming shrubs set their flowers on the current season’s growth so they can be pruned heavily in winter and will usually still flower the following summer.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 22 Oct. 2022
The good news, however, is new plants, called pups, can form at the base to flower in not a century, but about 10 or so years.
—Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022
The effort was launched in July 2020, showing what can flower when neighbors unite.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2022
Nutsedge will flower and produce seeds when not mowed, but the seeds generally do not germinate.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flower.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 31 Jan. 2023.
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
flower
2 of 2 verb
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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