1. (n.) 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. (n.) 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 enclosed 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 Corolla.

3. (n.) 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.

4. (n.) Grain pulverized; meal; flour.

5. (n.) A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulfur.

6. (n.) A figure of speech; an ornament of style.

7. (n.) Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc.

8. (n.) Menstrual discharges.

9. (v. i.) To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce flowers; as, this plant flowers in June.

10. (v. i.) To come into the finest or fairest condition.

11. (v. i.) To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.

12. (v. i.) To come off as flowers by sublimation.

13. (v. t.) To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as, flowered silk.

Chinese lantern Christmas rose Eglantine acacia advance androecium anther arrowhead asiaticism aster attain majority axiom azalea batten bead bear fruit bejewel beribbon bespangle best bleeding heart bloom blossom blow bluebell boom broom bud budding burgeon burgeoning buttercup cactus calendula calyx camellia carnation carpel center champion choice chosen chrysanthemum cineraria clematis clethra cockscomb columbine come of age come out come to maturity core cornel cornflower corolla corolla tube corona cosmos cowslip cream crocus cyclamen daffodil dahlia daisy dandelion delphinium develop device diamond dogwood duckweed edelweiss effloresce efflorescence elect elite elixir engrave epicalyx essence essential euphuism evolute evolve fat fatten feather figurative language figurativeness figure figure of speech filigree finest flag flax fledge fleur-de-lis floret floriculture floridity floscule flounce flourish floweret flowery style focus forget-me-not forsythia foxglove foxtail fuchsia fundamental gardenia gardening garland gem gentility gentry geranium germination gist gravamen groundsel grow grow fat grow up growth gynoecium hawthorn heart heather hibiscus honeysuckle horehound horticulture hortorium hyacinth hydrangea hypostasis illuminate image imagery impatience indigo inner essence iris jasmine jewel jonquil kernel lavender leave the nest lilac lily lobelia lotus lupine luxuriation magnolia mallow manner of speaking marigold marrow marsh marigold marshmallow maturate mature mayflower meat megasporophyll mellow microsporophyll mignonette moccasin flower mock orange monkshood motherwort myrtle narcissus nonesuch nonliterality nonliteralness nonpareil nub nucleus nuts and bolts oleander open optimum orchid ornament oxalis paint pansy paragon peony perianth periwinkle petal phlox pick pink pistil pith plume poppy postulate posy pride prime primrose principle prize progress pullulation purple passage quality queen quid quiddity quintessence ranunculus reach manhood reach twenty-one reach voting age receptacle resurrection plant rhododendron ribbon ripen rose sap season select settle down shoot shooting star snapdragon snowball snowberry snowdrop society soul spangle spiraea spirit spray sprouting stamen stigma stock strawflower stuff