inflorescence
[ in-flaw-res-uh ns, -floh-, -fluh- ]
/ ˌɪn flɔˈrɛs əns, -floʊ-, -flə- /
noun
a flowering or blossoming.
Botany.
- the arrangement of flowers on the axis.
- the flowering part of a plant.
- a flower cluster.
- flowers collectively.
Nearby words
Origin of inflorescence
Related formsin·flo·res·cent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for inflorescence
British Dictionary definitions for inflorescence
inflorescence
/ (ˌɪnflɔːˈrɛsəns) /
noun
the part of a plant that consists of the flower-bearing stalks
the arrangement of the flowers on the stalks
the process of flowering; blossoming
Derived Formsinflorescent, adjective
Word Origin for inflorescence
C16: from New Latin inflōrēscentia, from Late Latin inflōrescere to blossom, from flōrescere to bloom
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
Word Origin and History for inflorescence
inflorescence
1760, from Modern Latin inflorescentia, from Late Latin inflorescentem (nominative inflorescens) "flowering," present participle of Latin inflorescere "to come to flower," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + florescere "to begin to bloom" (see flourish).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Science definitions for inflorescence
inflorescence
[ ĭn′flə-rĕs′əns ]
A group of flowers growing from a common stem, often in a characteristic arrangement. Also called flower cluster
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.