Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

flow·er       (flou'ər)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) n.   The reproductive structure of some seed-bearing plants, characteristically having either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs, such as stamens and a pistil, enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals. Such a structure having showy or colorful parts; a blossom. A plant that is cultivated or appreciated for its blossoms. The condition or a time of having developed flowers: The azaleas were in full flower. Something, such as an ornament or a figure of speech, that resembles a flower in shape, fineness, or attractiveness. The period of highest development; the peak. See Synonyms at bloom1. The highest example or best representative: the flower of our generation. A natural development or outgrowth: "His attitude was simply a flower of his general good nature" (Henry James). flowers Chemistry A fine powder produced by condensation or sublimation of a compound. v.   flow·ered, flow·er·ing, flow·ers v.   intr. To produce a flower or flowers; blossom. To develop naturally or fully; mature: His artistic talents flowered early. v.   tr. To decorate with flowers or with a floral pattern. [Middle English flour, from Old French flor, from Latin flōs, flōr-; see bhel-3 in Indo-European roots.] flow'er·er n., flow'er·less adj.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
flower  (n.)

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

flower
noun
1.	a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
2.	reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts
3.	the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
verb
1.	produce or yield flowers; "The cherry tree bloomed" [syn: bloom]

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

flower       (flou'ər)  Pronunciation Key  (click for larger image in new window) The reproductive structure of the seed-bearing plants known as angiosperms. A flower may contain up to four whorls or arrangements of parts: carpels, stamens, petals, and sepals. The female reproductive organs consist of one or more carpels. Each carpel includes an ovary, style, and stigma. A single carpel or a group of fused carpels is sometimes called a pistil. The male reproductive parts are the stamens, made up of a filament and anther. The reproductive organs may be enclosed in an inner whorl of petals and an outer whorl of sepals. Flowers first appeared over 120 million years ago and have evolved a great diversity of forms and coloration in response to the agents that pollinate them. Some flowers produce nectar to attract animal pollinators, and these flowers are often highly adapted to specific groups of pollinators. Flowers pollinated by moths, such as species of jasmine and nicotiana, are often pale and fragrant in order to be found in the evening, while those pollinated by birds, such as fuschias, are frequently red and odorless, since birds have good vision but a less developed sense of smell. Wind-pollinated flowers, such as those of oak trees or grass, are usually drab and inconspicuous. See Note at pollination.

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
flower

The part of a plant that produces the seed. It usually contains petals, a pistil, and pollen-bearing stamens.

[Chapter:] Life Sciences

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Flower Mound, TX (town, FIPS 26232) Location: 33.02833 N, 97.09267 W
Population (1990): 15527 (5366 housing units)
Area: 83.0 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 75028

Flower Hill, NY (village, FIPS 26352) Location: 40.80853 N, 73.67596 W
Population (1990): 4490 (1506 housing units)
Area: 4.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Flower, WV Zip code(s): 26611

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Flower

Flow"er\, n. [OE. flour, OF. flour, flur, flor, F. fleur, fr. L. flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour, Flourish.]

1. In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the foliage.

2. (Bot.) That part of a plant destined to produce seed, and hence including one or both of the sexual organs; an organ or combination of the organs of reproduction, whether inclosed by a circle of foliar parts or not. A complete flower consists of two essential parts, the stamens and the pistil, and two floral envelopes, the corolla and callyx. In mosses the flowers consist of a few special leaves surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia. See Blossom, and Corolla.

Note: If we examine a common flower, such for instance as a geranium, we shall find that it consists of: First, an outer envelope or calyx, sometimes tubular, sometimes consisting of separate leaves called sepals; secondly, an inner envelope or corolla, which is generally more or less colored, and which, like the calyx, is sometimes tubular, sometimes composed of separate leaves called petals; thirdly, one or more stamens, consisting of a stalk or filament and a head or anther, in which the pollen is produced; and fourthly, a pistil, which is situated in the center of the flower, and consists generally of three principal parts; one or more compartments at the base, each containing one or more seeds; the stalk or style; and the stigma, which in many familiar instances forms a small head, at the top of the style or ovary, and to which the pollen must find its way in order to fertilize the flower. --Sir J. Lubbock.

3. The fairest, freshest, and choicest part of anything; as, the flower of an army, or of a family; the state or time of freshness and bloom; as, the flower of life, that is, youth.

The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain. --Hooker.

The flower of the chivalry of all Spain. --Southey.

A simple maiden in her flower Is worth a hundred coats of arms. --Tennyson.

4. Grain pulverized; meal; flour. [Obs.]

The flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a sort of glue. --Arbuthnot.

5. pl. (Old. Chem.) A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulphur.

6. A figure of speech; an ornament of style.

7. pl. (Print.) Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc. --W. Savage.

8. pl. Menstrual discharges. --Lev. xv. 24.

Animal flower (Zo["o]l.) See under Animal.

Cut flowers, flowers cut from the stalk, as for making a bouquet.

Flower bed, a plat in a garden for the cultivation of flowers.

Flower beetle (Zo["o]l.), any beetle which feeds upon flowers, esp. any one of numerous small species of the genus Meligethes, family Nitidulid[ae], some of which are injurious to crops.

Flower bird (Zo["o]l.), an Australian bird of the genus Anthornis, allied to the honey eaters.

Flower bud, an unopened flower.

Flower clock, an assemblage of flowers which open and close at different hours of the day, thus indicating the time.

Flower head (Bot.), a compound flower in which all the florets are sessile on their receptacle, as in the case of the daisy.

Flower pecker (Zo["o]l.), one of a family (Dic[ae]id[ae]) of small Indian and Australian birds. They resemble humming birds in habits.

Flower piece. (a) A table ornament made of cut flowers. (b) (Fine Arts) A picture of flowers.

Flower stalk (Bot.), the peduncle of a plant, or the stem that supports the flower or fructification.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Flower

Flow"er\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flowered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flowering.] [From the noun. Cf. Flourish.]

1. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce flowers; as, this plant flowers in June.

2. To come into the finest or fairest condition.

Their lusty and flowering age. --Robynson (More's Utopia).

When flowered my youthful spring. --Spenser.

3. To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.

That beer did flower a little. --Bacon.

4. To come off as flowers by sublimation. [Obs.]

Observations which have flowered off. --Milton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Flower

Flow"er\, v. t. To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as, flowered silk.