flower

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The reproductive structure of some seed-bearing plants, characteristically having either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs, such as stamens and a pistil, enclosed in an outer envelope of petals and sepals.
2. n. Such a structure having showy or colorful parts; a blossom.
3. n. A plant that is cultivated or appreciated for its blossoms.
4. n. The condition or a time of having developed flowers: The azaleas were in full flower.
5. n. Something, such as an ornament or a figure of speech, that resembles a flower in shape, fineness, or attractiveness.
6. n. The period of highest development; the peak. See Synonyms at bloom¹.
7. n. The highest example or best representative: the flower of our generation.
8. n. A natural development or outgrowth: "His attitude was simply a flower of his general good nature” ( Henry James).
9. n. Chemistry A fine powder produced by condensation or sublimation of a compound.
10. v. To produce a flower or flowers; blossom.
11. v. To develop naturally or fully; mature: His artistic talents flowered early.
12. v. To decorate with flowers or with a floral pattern.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In botany: A growth comprising the reproductive organs of a phenogamous plant and their envelops. A complete flower consists of pistil, stamens, corolla, and calyx in regular series, any one or more of which may be absent. The female organs, or those of fructification, are the ovules, which are usually inclosed within a stigma-bearing pistil or ovary. The male or fertilizing organs are the stamens, the essential part of which is the pollen-case or anther. According to the association or separation of these organs in the flower or upon the plant, flowers are bisexual (hermaphrodite or perfect), unisexual, monœcious, diœcious, etc. The corolla and calyx form the floral envelop or perianth, which may be wholly wanting, in which case the flower is said to be naked or achlamydeous; if the corolla only is absent, the flower is monochla-mydeous.
2. n. In popular language: Any blossom or inflorescence.
3. n. Any plant considered with reference to its blossom, or of which the blossom is the essential feature; a plant cultivated for its floral beauty.
4. n. The best or finest of a number of persons or things, or the choice part of a thing: as, the flower of the family.
5. n. That state or part of anything which may be likened to the flowering state of a plant; especially, the early period of life or of adult age; youthful vigor; prime: as, the flower of youth or manhood; the flower of beauty.
6. n. A figure of speech; an ornament of style.
7. n. In printing, a type of decorative design used in borders, or in constructed typographic head-bands or ornaments, or with an initial letter.
8. n. Eccles., an ornament of a chasuble, consisting in gold or other embroidery of branching or floreated patterns, extending over the upper part of the back, about the shoulders, and sometimes also in front, so as to cover the chest.
9. n. The finest part of grain pulverized. See flour.
10. n. plural In chem., fine particles of a substance, especially when raised by fire in sublimation, and adhering to the heads of vessels in the form of a powder or mealy deposit: as, the flowers of sulphur.
11. n. plural The menstrual flow.
12. To blossom; bloom; produce flowers; come into bloom or a blooming condition, literally or figuratively.
13. To flourish; be in a flourishing or vigorous condition.
14. To froth; ferment gently; mantle, as new beer.
15. To come as froth or cream from the surface.
16. Plants cultivated especially for their flowers.
17. To cover or embellish with flowers, or figures or imitations of flowers, as ribbons, lace, gloves, glass, etc.

Wiktionary

1. n. A colorful, conspicuous structure associated with angiosperms, frequently scented and attracting various insects, and which may or may not be used for sexual reproduction.
2. n. A reproductive structure in angiosperms (flowering plants), typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
3. n. A plant that bears flowers, especially a plant that is small and lacks wood.
4. n. Of plants, a state of bearing blooms.
5. n. The vulva, especially the labia majora.
6. n. The best examples or representatives of a group.
7. n. The best state of things; the prime.
8. n. something that flows, such as a river
9. v. To put forth blooms.
10. v. To reach a state of full development or great achievement.

GNU Webster's 1913

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 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.
3. n. The fairest, freshest, and choicest part of anything; ; the state or time of freshness and bloom.
4. n. Grain pulverized; meal; flour.
5. n. A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation.
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. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce flowers.
10. v. To come into the finest or fairest condition.
11. v. To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.
12. v. To come off as flowers by sublimation.
13. v. To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. produce or yield flowers
2. n. the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
3. n. a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
4. n. reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts