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inflorescence - 4 dictionary results

in⋅flo⋅res⋅cence

  [in-flaw-res-uhns, -floh-, -fluh-]
Use inflorescence in a Sentence
–noun
1. a flowering or blossoming.
2. Botany.
a. the arrangement of flowers on the axis.
b. the flowering part of a plant.
c. a flower cluster.
d. flowers collectively.
Origin:
1750–60; < NL inflōrēscentia < LL inflōrēscent- (s. of inflōrēscēns prp. of inflōrēscere to bloom. See in- 2 , flora, -escent, -ence

Related forms:
in⋅flo⋅res⋅cent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·flo·res·cence   (ĭn'flə-rěs'əns)   


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n.  
    1. A characteristic arrangement of flowers on a stem.
    2. A flower cluster.
  2. A flowering.

[New Latin īnflōrēscentia, from Late Latin īnflōrēscēns, īnflōrēscent-, present participle of īnflōrēscere, to begin to flower : Latin in-, intensive pref.; see in-2 + Latin flōrēscere, to begin to blossom; see florescence.]
in'flo·res'cent adj.
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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Inflorescence

In`flo*res"cence\, n. [L. inflorescens, p. pr. of inflorescere to begin to blossom; pref. in- in + florescere to begin to blossom: cf.F. inflorescence. See Florescent.]

1. A flowering; the putting forth and unfolding of blossoms.

2. (Bot.) (a) The mode of flowering, or the general arrangement and disposition of the flowers with reference to the axis, and to each other. (b) An axis on which all the flower buds.

Inflorescence affords an excellent characteristic mark in distinguishing the species of plants. --Milne.

Centrifugal inflorescence, determinate inflorescence.

Centripetal inflorescence, indeterminate inflorescence. See under Determinate, and Indeterminate.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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inflorescence   (ĭn'flə-rěs'əns)  Pronunciation Key 


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A group of flowers growing from a common stem, often in a characteristic arrangement. Also called flower cluster.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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