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flower
/ˈflaʊ.ər/
blossoming plant part
She picked a red flower from the garden.
A reference to a single blooming part of a plant, typically colorful.
literal
The colorful, often fragrant part of a plant that blooms.
The roses in the garden are in full flower.
The roses are blooming completely.
Commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts (e.g., 'in the flower of youth').
verb
To produce flowers; to bloom.
The daisies flowered in early spring.
The daisies began to bloom in early spring.
Often used in gardening or botanical contexts.
Collocations
flower beda garden area planted with flowersflower shopa store selling flowersin flowerblooming or in a state of full bloom
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Plural vs. Singular
Use 'flower' for one bloom (e.g., 'a flower') and 'flowers' for multiple (e.g., 'many flowers'). Avoid 'floweres' or other non-standard forms.
Gold Rule
Avoid Redundancy
Do not say 'flower blossom'—'flower' or 'blossom' alone suffices, as both imply the blooming part of a plant.
Word Origin
From Old English 'flōr' (floor, ground) via Proto-Germanic '*blōmô', related to Old Norse 'blōmi' (flower). The shift in meaning from 'floor' to 'flower' is unclear but may relate to the idea of something spreading or covering the ground.
Usage Notes
The noun 'flower' is countable (e.g., 'a flower'), while 'flora' refers collectively to all flowers in a region. The verb form is less common in everyday speech but appears in formal or technical writing.
Word Breakdown
flower
the blooming part of a plant
rootEnglish Dictionary