sunflower

American  

[suhn-flou-er] / ˈsʌnˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. any of various composite plants of the genus Helianthus, as H. annuus, having showy, yellow-rayed flower heads often 12 inches (30 centimeters) wide, and edible seeds that yield an oil with a wide variety of uses: the state flower of Kansas.

2. Also called aster.  Furniture. a conventionalized flower motif carved in the center panels of a Connecticut chest.

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sunflower British  

/ ˈsʌnˌflaʊə /

noun

1. any of several American plants of the genus Helianthus, esp H. annuus, having very tall thick stems, large flower heads with yellow rays, and seeds used as food, esp for poultry: family Asteraceae (composites) See also Jerusalem artichoke

2. the oil extracted from sunflower seeds, used as a salad oil, in the manufacture of margarine, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sunflower

First recorded in 1555–65; translation of Latin flōs sōlis “flower of the sun”

Example Sentences

Stroll a path and look down and spy some smiling sunflowers hidden in the bushes.

From Los Angeles Times

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fueled concern over oils made from crops such as canola, corn, soybean and sunflower, calling them “one of the worst things you can eat.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Food makes up about a third of Iran's imports, in particular corn, rice, sunflower seeds and oils as well as soybeans.

From BBC

Last weekend, visitors walking through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and nearby areas found tall, bright sunflowers, deep pink desert sand-verbena, basket evening primrose and even elusive desert lilies, which thrilled photographers like myself.

From Los Angeles Times

Palm, rapeseed and sunflower oils all declined, offsetting a modest uptick in soyoil quotations.

From The Wall Street Journal