Illustration of gladiolus
- gladiolus 1
gladiolus
noun
glad·i·o·lus ˌgla-dē-ˈō-ləs 
plural gladioli ˌgla-dē-ˈō-(ˌ)lē -ˌlī
-ˌlī 1
or plural gladiolus also gladioluses : any of a genus (Gladiolus) of chiefly African perennial plants of the iris family with erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from corms
2
: the large middle portion of the sternum
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The year’s bulb show kicks off with Gladiolus dalenii, a species gladiolus from South Africa. 
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2021 This is my first year growing gladiolus in Central Florida. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 7 Aug. 2021 Don’t be in a hurry to remove the green tops from gladiolus plants. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 24 July 2021 Florida gardeners and many in the more southern states have the option of leaving gladiolus bulbs in the ground or digging them and replanting in early spring. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 7 Aug. 2021 Aquarius flowers are the orchid (representing refined uniqueness) and gladiolus (a symbol of remembrance and strong character). Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 29 Mar. 2020 Some types of summer flowering bulbs, such as gladiolus or ranunculus, cannot survive cold winters. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 9 July 2020 With saber-like leaves and colorful flowers, crocosmia (or its cousin gladiolus) will make a striking contrast to Orienpets. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2020 Aquarius Aquarius flowers are the orchid (representing refined uniqueness) and gladiolus (a symbol of remembrance and strong character). Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2020 See More
Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2021 This is my first year growing gladiolus in Central Florida. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 7 Aug. 2021 Don’t be in a hurry to remove the green tops from gladiolus plants. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 24 July 2021 Florida gardeners and many in the more southern states have the option of leaving gladiolus bulbs in the ground or digging them and replanting in early spring. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 7 Aug. 2021 Aquarius flowers are the orchid (representing refined uniqueness) and gladiolus (a symbol of remembrance and strong character). Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 29 Mar. 2020 Some types of summer flowering bulbs, such as gladiolus or ranunculus, cannot survive cold winters. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 9 July 2020 With saber-like leaves and colorful flowers, crocosmia (or its cousin gladiolus) will make a striking contrast to Orienpets. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 June 2020 Aquarius Aquarius flowers are the orchid (representing refined uniqueness) and gladiolus (a symbol of remembrance and strong character). Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin, gladiolus, from diminutive of gladius
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
gladiolus
noun
glad·i·o·lus ˌgla-dē-ˈō-ləs
plural gladioli
-lē,
-ˌlī
or gladiolus also gladioluses : a plant with long stiff pointed leaves and stalks of brightly colored flowers
Medical Definition
gladiolus
noun
glad·i·o·lus ˌglad-ē-ˈō-ləs
plural gladioli -(ˌ)lē -ˌlī
-ˌlī : the large middle portion of the sternum lying between the upper manubrium and the lower xiphoid process
called also mesosternum