Word Meanings - FLOWER - Book Publishers vocabulary database

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

Additional info about word: FLOWER

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. The flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a sort of glue. Arbuthnot. 5. pl. (more info) flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour, 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.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of FLOWER)

• Bloom
• Blossom
• bud
• flower
• sprout
• germinate
• beauty
• freshness
• delicacy
• Prime
• Zenith
• culmination
• perfection
• dawn
• spring
• cream

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of FLOWER)

• Settle
• alight
• land
• drop
• arrive
• issue
• eventuate
• end
• terminate
• debouch
• disembogue
• Blight
• wither
• decay

Related words: (words related to FLOWER)

• CREAM-FACED
  White or pale, as the effect of fear, or as the natural complexion. Thou cream-faced loon. Shak.
• FLOWERY-KIRTLED
  Dressed with garlands of flowers. Milton.
• SPREADINGLY
  , adv. Increasingly. The best times were spreadingly infected. Milton.
• DECAY
  To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay;
• SPRINGBOARD
  An elastic board, secured at the ends, or at one end, often by elastic supports, used in performing feats of agility or in exercising.
• FLOWER-DE-LUCE
  A genus of perennial herbs with swordlike leaves and large three-petaled flowers often of very gay colors, but probably white in the plant first chosen for the royal French emblem. Note: There are nearly one hundred species, natives of the north
• SPRINGE
  A noose fastened to an elastic body, and drawn close with a sudden spring, whereby it catches a bird or other animal; a gin; a snare. As a woodcock to mine own springe. Shak.
• SPRINGAL
  An ancient military engine for casting stones and arrows by means of a spring.
• FLOWERY
  1. Full of flowers; abounding with blossoms. 2. Highly embellished with figurative language; florid; as, a flowery style. Milton. The flowery kingdom, China.
• PRIMEVALLY
  In a primeval manner; in or from the earliest times; originally. Darwin.
• SPRINT
  To run very rapidly; to run at full speed. A runner should be able to sprint the whole way. Encyc. Brit. (more info) Etym:
• FRESHNESS
  The state of being fresh. The Scots had the advantage both for number and freshness of men. Hayward. And breathe the freshness of the open air. Dryden. Her cheeks their freshness lose and wonted grace. Granville.
• SPRIGHTLY
  Sprightlike, or spiritlike; lively; brisk; animated; vigorous; airy; gay; as, a sprightly youth; a sprightly air; a sprightly dance. "Sprightly wit and love inspires." Dryden. The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green. Pope.
• FLOWERLESSNESS
  State of being without flowers.
• BLOOMINGNESS
  A blooming condition.
• BLOOMER
  1. A costume for women, consisting of a short dress, with loose trousers gathered round ankles, and a broad-brimmed hat. 2. A woman who wears a Bloomer costume.
• SPRINKLING
  1. The act of one who, or that which, sprinkles. Baptism may well enough be performed by sprinkling or effusion of water. Ayliffe. 2. A small quantity falling in distinct drops or particles; as, a sprinkling of rain or snow. 3. Hence, a moderate
• FLOWERLESS
  Having no flowers. Flowerless plants, plants which have no true flowers, and produce no seeds; cryptigamous plants.
• DEBOUCHURE
  The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait.
• SPRINGY
  1. Resembling, having the qualities of, or pertaining to, a spring; elastic; as, springy steel; a springy step. Though her little frame was slight, it was firm and springy. Sir W. Scott. 2. Abounding with springs or fountains; wet; spongy; as,
• DISPROPORTIONALLY
  In a disproportional manner; unsuitably in form, quantity, or value; unequally.
• WINDFLOWER
  The anemone; -- so called because formerly supposed to open only when the wind was blowing. See Anemone.
• CAULIFLOWER
  An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable. 2. The edible head or "curd" of a caulifower plant. (more info) caulis, and by E. flower; F. chou cabbage is fr. L.
• DISPROPORTIONABLE
  Disproportional; unsuitable in form, size, quantity, or adaptation; disproportionate; inadequate. -- Dis`pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n. Hammond. -- Dis`pro*por"tion*a*bly, adv.
• DISPROPORTIONALITY
  The state of being disproportional. Dr. H. More.
• HANDSPRING
  A somersault made with the assistance of the hands placed upon the ground.
• REISSUE
  To issue a second time.
• INTERMINATED
  Interminable; interminate; endless; unending. Akenside.