Flower

flow′ėr, n. a growth comprising the reproductive organs of plants: the blo om of a plant: the best of anything: the prime of life: the person or thing most distinguished: a figure of speech: ornament of style: ( pl. ) menstrual discharge ( B. ).— v.t. to adorn with figures of flowers.— v.i. to blo om: to flourish.— ns. Flow′erage , a gathering of flowers; Flow′er-bell , a blo om shaped like a bell; Flow′er-bud , a bud with the unopened flower; Flow′er-clock , a collection of flowers so arranged that the time of day is indicated by their times of opening and closing; Flow′er-de-luce , the old name for the common species of iris (q.v.), or for the heraldic emblem conventional i sed therefrom (see Fleur-de-lis ); Flow′eret , a little flower: a floret; Flow′er-head , a compound flower in which all the florets are se ile on the receptacle; Flow′erine ; Flow′ering-rush , a monocotyledonous plant usually reckoned under the order Alismaceæ , with large linear three-edged leaves and an umbel of rose-coloured flowers.— adjs. Flow′er-kir′tled , Flow′ery-kir′tled ( Milt. ), dre ed in robes or garlands of flowers; Flow′erle ( bot. ) having no flowers.— ns. Flow′er-pot , a utensil in culture whereby plants are rendered portable;, Flow′er-serv′ice , a church service where offerings of flowers are made, to be afterwards sent to hospitals; Flow′er-show , an exhibition of flowers; Flow′er-stalk , the stem that supports the flower.— adj. Flow′ery , full of, or adorned with, flowers: highly embellished, florid.— Flower of Jove , a caryophyllaceous plant, with heads of purple or scarlet flowers, and leaves silky-white with hairs. [O. Fr. flour (Fr. fleur )—L. flos , flor is , a flower.]