sunflower
nounUK /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ə/ · US /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.əɹ/
Etymology Compound of sun + flower. Compare English sunbloom.
Any plant of the genus Helianthus, so called probably from the form and color of its floral head, having the form of a large disk surrounded by yellow ray flowers.
- The flowers glowed red and golden: snapdragons and sunflowers, and nasturtians trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows.1954 July 29, J.R.R. Tolkien, “I: A Long-Expected Party”, in The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings; 1), →ISBN:
- The low-beamed Bell Inn, believed to date from 1520, is locally renowned for its garden where giant sunflowers grow. In 1978, one reached the spectacular height of 23 ft 6 in.1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 214, about Halton Holegate:
The commonly cultivated species, Helianthus annuus, a native of America.
A bright yellow, like that of the flower petals.
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Organic chemistry, Physical sciences Informal Any flat, radially symmetric organic compound, such as coronene.
Rail transport, Railways, Transport UK An Automatic Warning System (AWS) indicator in the driver's cab that is displayed after a driver has acknowledged an audible warning, which consists of a yellow circle enclosing a white circle, with black spokes overlaid.
- Derived terms
- beach sunflower, bush sunflower, Maximilian sunflower, Mexican sunflower, paradox sunflower, red sunflower, sea sunflower, sunflower beetle, sunflower bread, Sunflower County, sunflowered, sunflowerlike, sunflower moth, sunflower oil, sunflower sea star, sunflower seed, sunflower star, sunflowery, The Sunflower State
- Related terms
- sunchoke, blueweed, girasol, helianthus, Jerusalem artichoke, moonflower