the plants of a particular region or period, listed by species and considered as a whole.
a work systematically describing such plants.
plants, as distinguished from fauna.
the aggregate of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms normally occurring on or in the bodies of humans and other animals.
intestinal flora.
all the plant life of a given place or time
a descriptive list of such plants, often including a key for identification
short for intestinal flora
The plants of a particular region or time period.
The bacteria and other microorganisms that normally inhabit a bodily organ or part, such as the intestine.
First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin, Latin Flōra the Roman goddess of flowers (used from the 17th century in the titles of botanical works), derivative of Latin flōr- (stem of flōs ) “flower”
The flora of a particular area consists of its plant species, considered as a whole. The word also refers to the plant life of a particular era — for example, fossilized plants can help us determine the flora at the time of dinosaurs. The use of the word flora as referring to a particular area's vegetation has been used by botanists since the 1640s, but it became common with Swedish botanist Linnaeus, who in 1745 wrote "Flora Suecica," a study of the plant life of Sweden. The word was a natural fit, as Flōra was the name of the Roman goddess of flowers. When scientists study a region's flora, they classify their findings and create a descriptive list, which is also called a flora.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Enyedi implicitly provokes such consideration through shots that often put flora in the foreground, with humans reduced to background extras.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
"These habitats are exceptionally rare, rich in biodiversity, support unique flora and fauna, and are impossible to recreate or replace," he said.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
The gut microbiome, also called the gut flora, plays a vital role in human health.
From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026
Humanity, which has gained the capability of time travel, lives among the clouds, collecting extinct flora from the past to populate lush, green gardens on elevated platforms while Earth undergoes a healing process below.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025
Thus, New Guineans have had ample opportunity to get to know their local flora and fauna.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
