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flora

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flo⋅ra

[flawr-uh, flohr-uh]
–noun, plural flo⋅ras, flo⋅rae [flawr-ee, flohr-ee] for 2.
1. the plants of a particular region or period, listed by species and considered as a whole.
2. a work systematically describing such plants.
3. plants, as distinguished from fauna.
4. the aggregate of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms normally occurring on or in the bodies of humans and other animals: intestinal flora.

Origin:
1655–65; < NL, L Flōra the Roman goddess of flowers (used from the 17th cent. in the titles of botanical works), deriv. of L flōr- (s. of flōs) flower

Flo⋅ra

[flawr-uh, flohr-uh]
–noun
a female given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To flora
flo·ra   (flôr'ə, flōr'ə)   
n.   pl. flo·ras or flo·rae (flôr'ē', flōr'ē')
  1. Plants considered as a group, especially the plants of a particular country, region, or time.

  2. A treatise describing the plants of a region or time.

  3. The bacteria and other microorganisms that normally inhabit a bodily organ or part: intestinal flora.


[From Flora.]
Flo·ra   (flôr'ə, flōr'ə)   
n.   Roman Mythology
The goddess of flowers.

[Latin Flōra, from flōs, flōr-, flower; see bhel-3 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

flora [(flawr-uh)]

Plants, especially the plants of a particular place and time.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

flora 
1777, "the plant life of a region or epoch," from L. Flora Roman goddess of flowers, from flos (gen. floris) "flower," from *flo-s-, Italic suffixed form of PIE *bhle-, extended form of *bhel- "to thrive, bloom" (see bole). Used as the title of descriptive plant catalogues since 1647, but popularized by Linnaeus in his 1745 study of Swedish plants, "Flora Suecica." The adj. floral is attested 1647, from Fr. floral, from L. floralis "of flowers."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: flo·ra
Pronunciation: 'flOr-&, 'flor-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural floras also flo·rae /'flO(&)r-"E, 'flo(&)r-, -"I/
: plant life; especially : the plant life characteristic of a region, period, or special environment flora of the human intestine> —compare FAUNAflo·ral /'flOr-&l, 'flor-/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

flora flo·ra (flôr'ə)
n. pl. flo·ras or flo·rae (flôr'ē')

  1. Plants considered as a group.

  2. The microorganisms that normally inhabit a bodily organ or part.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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