flower
gb/flˈaʊɚ/ us/flˈaʊɚ/
A1
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Reproductive part of a plant
The part of a plant that grows with petals and makes seeds.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] flower
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'flower' with 'flour' (used for baking) because they sound the same.
Synonyms
blossom (Often used for flowers on trees or shrubs, especially in spring.)
Antonyms
leaf (A different plant part, used for photosynthesis rather than reproduction.)
Collocations
fresh flowers
|wild flowers
|flower garden
|flower shop
|flower petals
Themes
nature
|plants
|daily life
|science
Examples
- The garden is full of bright red flowers.
- She picked a flower and placed it in her hair.
- Many insects are attracted to the smell of flowers.
- Tulips are my favorite kind of flower.
Learner examples
- I see a yellow flower.
- This flower is very big.
- She gives me a flower.
- There is one flower in the vase.
Verb
literary
B1
action
2
To produce flowers
When a plant grows flowers.
Usage pattern:
[plant] flowers in [season]
Synonyms
bloom (More common in everyday speech for plants producing flowers.)
Antonyms
wilt (Describes the process of a plant or flower drooping or dying rather than blooming.)
Collocations
plants flower
|trees flower
|flowering season
Themes
nature
|plants
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The cherry trees flower in early April.
- These plants only flower once a year.
- The cactus will flower if given enough sunlight.
Learner examples
- The tree will flower in spring.
- My plant flowers in summer.
- The bush flowers every year.
Noun
literary
C1
state
3
Best or most developed period
The best time or most successful part of something.
Usage pattern:
the flower of [something]
Synonyms
prime (Neutral term for the best period of life or development.)
Antonyms
decline (A period when quality or success is decreasing.)
Collocations
in the flower of youth
|the flower of civilization
Themes
literature
|life stages
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He died in the flower of his youth.
- This was the flower of the city's cultural life.
- They were in the flower of their careers.
Learner examples
- She is in the flower of her youth.
- It was the flower of the team's history.
- He died in the flower of his life.
Grammar
Dictionary form
flower
IPA
GB/flˈaʊɚ/
US/flˈaʊɚ/
Syllables & stress
flower (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (flower)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: flower
- Plural: flower, flowers
Verb
- Base: flower
- 3rd Person Singular: flowers
- Present Participle: flowering
- Past: flowered
Word family
Expressions
come into flower
1/kˈʌm ˈɪntu flˈaʊɚ/
idiom
Begin blooming or peak stage
When a plant starts to have flowers, or when something starts to be successful.
Examples
- The roses came into flower earlier than usual this year.
- Her career really came into flower after she moved to New York.
flower power
1/flˈaʊɚ pˈaʊɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
1960s peace and love movement
A way to talk about the hippie movement in the 1960s that wanted peace and love instead of war.
Examples
- Flower power was a symbol of hope during the Vietnam War era.
- They wore colorful clothes as part of the flower power style.
in full flower
1/ˈɪn fˈʊl flˈaʊɚ/
idiom
literary
At peak development or success
At the time when something is at its best or most complete.
Examples
- Her talent was in full flower by the time she was twenty.
- The city's art scene was in full flower during the 1980s.