Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.
\Flow"er\, v. t. To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as, flowered silk.