floral
gb/flˈɔɹəl/ us/flˈɔɹəl/
B1
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
decorated with flower patterns
Describes clothes or things that have pictures or designs of flowers on them.
Usage pattern:
floral [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "floral" with "flowery." "Floral" is more neutral and often used for real patterns on clothes or objects, while "flowery" is often used for language (e.g., "flowery speech").
Synonyms
flowered (Very close in meaning, but slightly less common in modern use for patterns on clothing and decor.)
Antonyms
plain (Describes fabric or objects with no pattern, so it contrasts with floral patterns.)
Collocations
floral dress
|floral shirt
|floral wallpaper
|floral pattern
|floral print
|floral fabric
Themes
clothing
|home
|art
|daily_life
Examples
- She wore a bright floral dress to the summer party.
- They chose a soft floral wallpaper for the nursery.
- I bought some floral cushions to liven up the sofa.
- The shop window was full of floral skirts and blouses.
- He dislikes floral prints and prefers simple, solid colors.
Learner examples
- She has a red floral dress.
- I like your floral shirt.
- The bed has floral sheets.
- We put up floral wallpaper in the living room.
- She bought a blue bag with a floral pattern.
adjective
B2
property
2
smelling like flowers
Describes a smell (or taste) that is like the smell of flowers.
Usage pattern:
floral [scent/fragrance/notes]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "floral" can describe any nice smell, but it specifically means a smell (or taste) similar to flowers. A clean or soapy smell, for example, is not always "floral."
Synonyms
flowery (Often used similarly, but can sound slightly more informal or literary, and can also describe language style.)
Antonyms
musky (Describes a strong, heavy scent, which contrasts with the light, flower-like smell of something floral.)
Collocations
floral scent
|floral fragrance
|floral perfume
|floral notes
|lightly floral
|fresh and floral
Themes
smell
|food_and_drink
|fashion
|daily_life
|food_drink
Examples
- This perfume has a light, floral scent that’s perfect for daytime.
- The wine has subtle floral notes of rose and jasmine.
- I prefer fresh, citrusy smells to sweet, floral fragrances.
- Her shampoo left a soft floral fragrance in the air.
- The tea is delicate and slightly floral on the palate.
Learner examples
- This perfume is very floral.
- The soap has a light, floral smell.
- The wine has floral notes.
- I like fresh, floral fragrances.
- The tea has a soft, floral taste.
adjective
B1
property
3
relating to flowers or floristry
Connected to flowers, especially the work of selling or arranging flowers.
Usage pattern:
floral [industry/design/department]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "flower" instead of "floral" before nouns (e.g., "flower industry" instead of "floral industry"). "Floral" is more natural for professional or design contexts.
Synonyms
botanical (Also related to plants, but more scientific and not limited to flowers or commercial use.)
Antonyms
non-floral (Used to describe products or designs that do not include flowers or are not related to flowers.)
Collocations
floral industry
|floral design
|floral arrangements
|floral shop
|floral department
|floral supplies
Themes
business
|arts
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
|work
Examples
- She took a course in floral design after leaving her office job.
- The company supplies floral foam to flower shops across the country.
- He’s been working in the floral industry for over twenty years.
- We ordered a large floral arrangement for the hotel lobby.
- The supermarket has a small floral department near the entrance.
Learner examples
- She works in the floral industry.
- He studied floral design.
- We went to the floral shop to buy flowers.
- The hotel ordered a big floral arrangement.
- The store has a floral department at the front.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
relating to a plant’s flowers
In plant science, about the flowers or flower parts of a plant.
Usage pattern:
floral [structure/meristem/parts]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that in scientific writing, "floral" can have a very specific technical meaning, not just "pretty and covered in flowers."
Synonyms
flowering (Can overlap in scientific use, but often refers to the process or state of producing flowers, not the structures themselves.)
Antonyms
vegetative (In botany, refers to non-flowering parts or phases of a plant, opposite to floral parts or phases.)
Collocations
floral parts
|floral structures
|floral meristem
|floral morphology
|floral organs
|floral traits
Themes
science
|biology
|nature
Examples
- The study examines the evolution of floral traits in this species group.
- Floral morphology can vary greatly between closely related plants.
- Researchers observed changes in floral structures under different light conditions.
- The gene is expressed only in floral meristems.
- Damage to the floral organs reduced the plant’s ability to reproduce.
Learner examples
- The book explains floral parts of the plant.
- Scientists study floral structures in detail.
- This gene is active in floral tissue.
- They looked at floral organs under a microscope.
- Floral traits are important for plant reproduction.
Grammar
Dictionary form
floral
IPA
GB/flˈɔɹəl/
US/flˈɔɹəl/
Syllables & stress
flor - al (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (flor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: floral
Word family
Expressions
floral arrangement
1/flˈɔɹəl ɚˈeɪnd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
decorative group of flowers
A group of flowers that are put together in a planned way for decoration.
Examples
- A large floral arrangement stood in the hotel lobby.
- She makes floral arrangements for weddings and events.
- The table was decorated with simple floral arrangements in glass jars.
floral design
1/flˈɔɹəl dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
art of arranging flowers
The art or job of putting flowers together in a beautiful way.
Examples
- He teaches floral design at the local college.
- Floral design requires a good eye for color and shape.
- She started a small business in floral design for events.
floral dress
1/flˈɔɹəl dɹˈɛs/
fixed phrase
dress with flowers on it
A dress that has a design of flowers on the fabric.
Examples
- She wore a long floral dress to the wedding.
- Most of the models were walking down the runway in bright floral dresses.
- I packed a light floral dress for the beach holiday.
floral fragrance
1/flˈɔɹəl fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
fixed phrase
flower-like perfume or smell
A perfume or smell that is like flowers.
Examples
- This floral fragrance is one of the brand’s bestsellers.
- He chose a light floral fragrance for everyday use.
- The hotel lobby was filled with a subtle floral fragrance.
floral industry
1/flˈɔɹəl ˈɪndəstɹi/
fixed phrase
business of growing and selling flowers
All the businesses that grow, sell, and work with flowers.
Examples
- The floral industry was hit hard by the drop in events.
- Technology is changing how the floral industry manages deliveries.
- She has worked in the floral industry since she was a teenager.
floral notes
1/flˈɔɹəl nˈoʊts/
fixed phrase
subtle flower-like aroma or taste
Small, clear parts of the smell or taste that are like flowers, often in wine, coffee, or perfume.
Examples
- The wine has floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom.
- Coffee lovers will notice the light floral notes in this blend.
- The gin is known for its delicate floral notes.
floral pattern
1/flˈɔɹəl pˈætɚn/
fixed phrase
design of flowers on something
A repeated design of flowers printed or woven on cloth, paper, or another surface.
Examples
- The curtains have a bold floral pattern that brightens the room.
- She chose a dress with a small, delicate floral pattern.
- They painted the wall to match the floral pattern on the sofa.
floral perfume
1/flˈɔɹəl pɚfjˈum/
fixed phrase
perfume that smells like flowers
Perfume that mainly smells like flowers.
Examples
- She only wears floral perfumes in the spring and summer.
- If you like roses, you’ll enjoy this floral perfume.
- The shop offers a wide range of floral perfumes.
floral print
1/flˈɔɹəl pɹˈɪnt/
fixed phrase
fabric printed with flowers
Cloth or material that has pictures of flowers printed on it.
Examples
- This skirt comes in plain colors and in a floral print.
- Floral print is very popular in summer collections.
- She avoids large floral prints because they feel too busy.
floral scent
1/flˈɔɹəl sˈɛnt/
fixed phrase
smell that is like flowers
A smell that is like the smell of flowers.
Examples
- The soap has a gentle floral scent.
- She prefers a clean, floral scent over something heavy and sweet.
- The room was filled with a fresh floral scent from the bouquet.
floral shirt
1/flˈɔɹəl ʃˈɚt/
fixed phrase
shirt with flowers on it
A shirt that has a flower design on the fabric.
Examples
- He showed up in a loud floral shirt and sunglasses.
- Floral shirts are back in fashion this season.
- I bought a simple white tee and a colorful floral shirt.
floral wallpaper
1/flˈɔɹəl wˈɔlpˌeɪpɚ/
fixed phrase
wallpaper with flower designs
Wallpaper that has pictures or designs of flowers on it.
Examples
- They covered the bedroom walls with soft floral wallpaper.
- The old house still had bright orange floral wallpaper in the kitchen.
- She prefers plain walls to busy floral wallpaper.
floral tribute
1/flˈɔɹəl tɹˈɪbjut/
fixed phrase
flowers given to show respect
Flowers that are given or shown to honor or remember someone, often at a funeral or ceremony.
Examples
- Mourners laid a floral tribute at the base of the statue.
- Mourners laid floral tributes outside the church.
- The family sent a simple floral tribute to the service.
- The family asked for donations instead of floral tributes.
- Crowds left floral tributes outside the stadium.
- Hundreds of floral tributes were placed at the accident site.