Word: flower Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English flour, from Anglo-Norman flur, from Latin flōrem, accusative of flōs, from Proto-Italic *flōs, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- (“to thrive, bloom”). Doublet of fleur, flor, flour, bloom, and blossom. Partly displaced native Old English blostma (which is cognate), whence Modern English blossom. Pronunciation: /ˈflaʊ̯.ə/, [ˈflaʊ̯.ə], /ˈflawə/, /ˈfluː.ɐ/, [ˈfluː.ɐ] 1. A colorful, conspicuous structure associated with angiosperms, frequently scented and attracting various insects, and which may or may not be used for sexual reproduction. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: O Laurinella! little doſt thou wot / How fraile a flower thou doſt ſo highly prize: / Beauty's the flower, but love the flower-pot / That muſt preſerve it, els it quickly dyes. Example: The flowers glowed red and golden: snapdragons and sunflowers, and nasturtians trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows. 2. A reproductive structure in angiosperms (flowering plants), often conspicuously colourful and typically including sepals, petals, and either or both stamens and/or a pistil. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: You know, Darwin studied their fertilisation, and showed that the whole structure of an ordinary orchid flower was contrived in order that moths might carry the pollen from plant to plant. 3. A plant that bears flowers, especially a plant that is small and lacks wood. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: We transplanted the flowers to a larger pot. 4. The stem of a flowering plant with the blossom or blossoms attached, used for decoration, as a gift, etc. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He always keeps a vase full of flowers in his office. 5. Of plants, a state of bearing blooms. Labels: uncountable, usually Example: The dogwoods are in flower this week. 6. The vulva, especially the labia majora. Labels: countable, euphemistic, familiar, uncountable Example: [F]or ſtill, that my virgin-flower was yet uncrop'd never once enter'd into his head, and he would have thought it idling with time and words to have queſtion'd me upon it. Example: So was it asserted, that whenever a maiden was destined to die unmarried, as surely would the plant wither away and perish, and if a dughter of the Renseccos lost her honour or had given away her flower to an unworthy lover, then would the flower be blighted overnight. 7. The best examples or representatives of a group. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: At Floddon hyllys, / Our bowys, our byllys / Slew all the floure / Of theyr honoure. Example: The choice and flower of all things profitable in other Bookes, the Pſalmes doe both more briefly contayne, and more mouingly alſo expreſſe, by reason of that Poeticall forme wherewith they are written. 8. The best state of things; the prime. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: She was in the flower of her life. Example: A simple maiden in her flower / Is worth a hundred coats-of-arms. 9. Flour. Labels: countable, obsolete, uncountable Example: The Flovvers of Grains mix'd vvith VVater vvill make a ſort of Glue. 10. A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation. Labels: countable, in-plural, obsolete, uncountable Example: the flowers of sulphur Example: Exposed to a moderate fire in subliming pots, [brimstone] rises all into dry, and almost tasteless, flowers; whereas being exposed to a naked fire, it affords store of a saline and fretting liquor. 11. A figure of speech; an ornament of style. Labels: countable, uncountable 12. Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I pointed out to the late Mr. Catherwood, of the firm of Caslon and Catherwood, the inconvenience of both these modes of cutting flowers, 13. Menstrual discharges. Labels: countable, in-plural, obsolete, uncountable Example: And if any man lye with her at all, and her flowers be vpon him, hee shall be vncleane seuen dayes: and all the bed whereon he lyeth, shall be vncleane. 14. A delicate, fragile, or oversensitive person. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: […] she whispered leaning over and kissing her forehead; and then added, 'Mummy loves you, precious flower.' Example: “Take care of yourself out there, Brown, you delicate flower.” 15. Credit, recognition. Labels: countable, figuratively, in-plural, uncountable Example: to give someone his flowers; to get one's flowers Example: It has been my desire to find a way to express my gratitude to these women for quite some time but I really did not know how to give them their flowers as a method to tell them thanks. 16. Cannabis. Labels: slang, uncountable