sunflower

See also: Sunflower

English

Etymology

From sun +‎ flower. Compare English sunbloom.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.ə/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈsʌn.flaʊ.əɹ/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ʌnflaʊə(ɹ)
  • Hyphenation: sun‧flow‧er

Noun

sunflower (plural sunflowers)

  2. 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.
    • 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 flowers glowed red and golden: snapdragons and sunflowers, and nasturtians trailing all over the turf walls and peeping in at the round windows.
    • 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 214, about Halton Holegate:
      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.
    1. The commonly cultivated species, Helianthus annuus, a native of America.
  3. A bright yellow, like that of the flower petals.
    sunflower:  
  4. (informal, organic chemistry) Any flat, radially symmetric organic compound, such as coronene.
  5. (pathology) Synonym of worm-star.
  6. (UK, rail transport) 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.

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