flower

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

The flower of the chivalry of all Spain. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

A simple maiden in her flower
Is worth a hundred coats of arms. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Grain pulverized; meal; flour. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a sort of glue. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. pl. (Old Chem.) A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulphur. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A figure of speech; an ornament of style. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. pl. (Print.) Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc. W. Savage. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. pl. Menstrual discharges. Lev. xv. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

Animal flower (Zool.) 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 (Zool.), any beetle which feeds upon flowers, esp. any one of numerous small species of the genus Meligethes, family Nitidulidæ, some of which are injurious to crops. --
Flower bird (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), one of a family (Dicæidæ) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]