Trends ofgladiolus
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gladiolus
(glædioʊləs)
Word forms: plural gladioli
countable noun
A gladiolus is a type of plant with long thin leaves and several large brightly coloured flowers.
gladiolus in British English
(ˌɡlædɪˈəʊləs)
nounWord forms: plural -lus, -li (-laɪ) or -luses
1. 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
2. anatomy
the large central part of the breastbone
Word origin
C16: from Latin: a small sword, sword lily, from gladius a swordgladiolus in American English
(ˌglædiˈoʊləs; also gləˈdaɪələs)
nounWord forms: plural ˌgladiˈoluses or ˌgladiˈoˌli (ˌglædiˈoʊˌlaɪ; also gləˈdaɪəˌlaɪ)
1.
any of a genus (Gladiolus) of plants of the iris family, with swordlike leaves, corms, and tall spikes of funnel-shaped flowers in various colors
2. Anatomy
the central part of the sternum
Word origin
ModL < L, sword lily, small sword, dim. of gladius: see gladiatorImage ofgladiolus
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