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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of sunflower

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

Example Sentences

Before the war, Ukraine was the biggest exporter of sunflower seeds in the world, and the seventh biggest grain supplier.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Last year an attack on the nearby port of Pivdennyi hit a sunflower oil storage tank, polluting the Black Sea coast.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Another key finding involves how sunflower oil is produced.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026

Price gains for palm, soy, and sunflower oils—driven by seasonal supply slowdowns, tight export availability, and strong demand—more than offset a decline in rapeseed oil prices due to ample EU supplies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

She digs into a small bag of sunflower seeds and spits out the shells on the ground next to the stoop.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi