sunflower

American  

[suhn-flou-er] / ˈsʌnˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. any of various composite plants of the genus Helianthus, as H. annuus, having showy, yellow-rayed flower heads often 12 inches (30 centimeters) wide, and edible seeds that yield an oil with a wide variety of uses: the state flower of Kansas.

2. Also called aster.  Furniture. a conventionalized flower motif carved in the center panels of a Connecticut chest.

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sunflower British  

/ ˈsʌnˌflaʊə /

noun

1. any of several American plants of the genus Helianthus, esp H. annuus, having very tall thick stems, large flower heads with yellow rays, and seeds used as food, esp for poultry: family Asteraceae (composites) See also Jerusalem artichoke

2. the oil extracted from sunflower seeds, used as a salad oil, in the manufacture of margarine, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sunflower

First recorded in 1555–65; translation of Latin flōs sōlis “flower of the sun”

Example Sentences

Hugh, who runs a sunflower farm in Pembrokeshire, said he wanted to encourage farmers to seek medical help when needed and not "hold back" like he had in the past.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

A teacher hoisted a huge sunflower made from dozens of balloons -- the plant's name in Mandarin is a homophone for a Chinese idiom about success.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

To start, each box contains sunflower lecithin, which is extracted from sunflower oil, a seed oil.

From Salon • May 23, 2026

Nestle reformulated products, no longer meeting the 20% cocoa solids threshold, and created cocoa-free items from sunflower seeds and oats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

The jewel tones shift from ocean blues to cobalts and magentas, from crimson reds to sunflower yellows.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton