gladiolus
Americannoun
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any plant of the genus Gladiolus, of the iris family, native especially to Africa, having erect, sword-shaped leaves and spikes of flowers in a variety of colors.
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Anatomy. the middle and largest segment of the sternum.
noun
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Also called: sword lily. gladiola. any iridaceous plant of the widely cultivated genus Gladiolus, having sword-shaped leaves and spikes of funnel-shaped brightly coloured flowers
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anatomy the large central part of the breastbone
Usage
What does gladiolus mean? The name gladiolus can refer to any plant in the genus Gladiolus, which is in the iris family. They are known for their sword-shaped leaves and brightly colored, funnel-shaped flowers. Due to the shape of its leaves, the gladiolus is sometimes called the sword lily. A gladiolus can also be called a gladiola. Gladiolus plants are sometimes informally called glads for short. The plural of gladiolus can be gladiolus, gladioli, or gladioluses. There are more than 300 species of gladiolus and their flowers come in many different colors. They are commonly used as ornamental flowers by gardeners and florists. The gladiolus is the one of the August birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). The word gladiolus has another meaning in the context of anatomy, in which it refers to the middle and largest segment of the sternum (the breastbone). Example: We used four different kinds of gladiolus to make the wedding bouquet.
Etymology
Origin of gladiolus
1560–70; < Latin: small sword, sword lily, equivalent to gladi ( us ) sword + -olus -ole 1
Compare meaning
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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.
Across the street, Gladiolus Food Pantry also lost a walk-in freezer full of food, the remains piled in dozens of trash bags out front.
From Washington Post • Oct. 4, 2022
A new orange gladiolus found on top of a remote table mountain in Guinea is now called Gladiolus mariae, after Xander van der Burgt christened the plant after his wife Maria.
From The Guardian • Dec. 17, 2019
I feel bad that no one wants to date Gladiolus and Noctis though.
From The Guardian • Dec. 29, 2016
At one luncheon, the delegates sighed over a new strain of gladiolus christened the "Osa Mae Gladiolus," in honor of National Council President Mrs. Osa Mae Barton.
From Time Magazine Archive
The best example in which this method of increase is practised is the Gladiolus.
From Beautiful Bulbous Plants For the Open Air by Weathers, John
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.
