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inflorescence

[in-flaw-res-uh ns, -floh-, -fluh-]
See more synonyms for inflorescence on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a flowering or blossoming.
  2. Botany.
    1. the arrangement of flowers on the axis.
    2. the flowering part of a plant.
    3. a flower cluster.
    4. flowers collectively.
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Origin of inflorescence

1750–60; < New Latin inflōrēscentia < Late Latin inflōrēscent- (stem of inflōrēscēns present participle of inflōrēscere to bloom1. See in-2, flora, -escent, -ence
Related formsin·flo·res·cent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

bloomblossomvineperennialherbefflorescencespikefloretposybudfloweretinflorescenceshootheadannualclusterspraypompon

Examples from the Web for inflorescence

Historical Examples

  • From a portion of a barley crop the inflorescence was removed as soon as it appeared.

    Researches on Cellulose

    C. F. Cross

  • This form of inflorescence is known technically as a “raceme.”

  • Inflorescence is an open or contracted or spiciform panicle.

    A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses

    Rai Bahadur K. Ranga Achariyar

  • Cattle eat it when young, but avoid it when the inflorescence is mature.

    A Handbook of Some South Indian Grasses

    Rai Bahadur K. Ranga Achariyar

  • The front side of a flower, remote from the axis of inflorescence.

    Michigan Trees

    Charles Herbert Otis

British Dictionary definitions for inflorescence

inflorescence

noun
  1. the part of a plant that consists of the flower-bearing stalks
  2. the arrangement of the flowers on the stalks
  3. the process of flowering; blossoming
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Derived Formsinflorescent, adjective

Word Origin

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

n.

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).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
inflorescence in Science

inflorescence

[ĭn′flə-rĕs′əns]
  1. A group of flowers growing from a common stem, often in a characteristic arrangement. Also called flower cluster
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.