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cornflower

American  
[kawrn-flau-er] / ˈkɔrnˌflaʊ ər /

noun

  • cornflowers
    plural
  1. Also called bachelor's-button, bluebottle. a European composite plant, Centaurea cyanus, growing in grainfields, having blue to white flower heads, often cultivated as an ornamental.

  2. Also called cornflower blue. a deep, vivid blue.

  3. corn cockle.

  4. strawflower.


cornflower British  
/ ˈkɔːnˌflaʊə /

noun

  1. Also called: bluebottle. a Eurasian herbaceous plant, Centaurea cyanus, with blue, purple, pink, or white flowers, formerly a common weed in cornfields: family Asteraceae (composites) See also bachelor's-buttons

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of cornflower

First recorded in 1570–80; corn 1 + flower


Vocabulary lists containing cornflower

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Several papers also carry pictures of Catherine, Princess of Wales in a cornflower blue suit at Wimbldon.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

During our interview, Schneider repeatedly referred to stats from his Noom weight-loss app, his cornflower blue eyes glimmering as he spoke of caloric intake versus exercise expenditure in steps and miles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2024

The bright blue cornflower, for instance, assembles a large complex of six anthocyanins and six copigments arranged like spokes on a wheel around four metal ions.

From Science Magazine ● Jun. 14, 2023

Or the indigo lines undulating gently down her arm on a cornflower background look like water.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 16, 2022

“I see midnight blue, persian blue, cornflower, powder, and sapphire. And whites? There’s porcelain, daisy, and pearl.”

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Some of my favorites include violas, zinnias, rose petals, cornflowers and flowering herbs.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2022

Burton's intimate view of Tutankhamun's outer coffin focuses on the garland of cornflowers and olives leaves adorning the young king's forehead.

From BBC ● May 10, 2022

She added that the bees will come when the cornflowers bloom, in warmer, bluer months.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2021

Fresh flowers sometimes make an appearance — vibrant blue cornflowers, or purple and orange nasturtium blossoms — as do showers of crumbled dried herbs.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2019

The child’s pink nightie, the stacks of white pillow slips edged with embroidery, the sheets with top hems picked out with blue cornflowers.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

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