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cornflower

American  
[kawrn-flou-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:

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

Of course, in the fashion world, an item of clothing can't just be blue, so Laws says he thinks cornflower and cobalt blue will make a particular appearance across shows.

From BBC Sep. 11, 2024

A few years ago, Buchweitz tried to develop the cornflower blue as a colorant for the food industry, but it didn’t pan out.

From Science Magazine Jun. 14, 2023

U.S. first lady Jill Biden wore a cornflower blue skirt suit by Ralph Lauren, with a matching hairpiece and gloves.

From Seattle Times May 6, 2023

But my eyes are cornflower blue, like Mother’s.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

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

From Salon Oct. 22, 2022

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

Scientists got their first glimpse of the complexity behind blue flowers in 1913, when German researcher Richard Willstätter announced he had isolated the blue pigment from cornflowers.

From Science Magazine May 2, 2019

She made poppies out of paper for Remembrance Day while living in Africa, and sold the French equivalent of poppies, blue cornflowers, while living with her husband in France.

From BBC May 31, 2018

It was her favorite one, pale yellow bordered with the cornflowers after which she was named.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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