anthesis

[ an-thee-sis ]

noun

, Botany.

, plural an·the·ses [an-, thee, -seez].

1. the period or act of expansion in flowers, especially the maturing of the stamens.

anthesis

/ ænˈθiːsɪs /

noun

1. the time when a flower becomes sexually functional

anthesis

/ ăn-thē′sĭs /

1. The period during which a flower is fully open and functional.
2. Also called efflorescence

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthesis¹

1825–35; < New Latin < Greek ánthēsis bloom, equivalent to anthē- (verbid stem of antheîn to bloom) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthesis¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek: full bloom, from anthein to bloom, from anthos flower

Example Sentences

"I feel we are the anthesis of each other and I am glad about that."

From BBC

Transnational cooperation is of course crucial to combating pandemics, but the institution in question is the anthesis of it, as the shunning of Taiwan makes painfully clear.

From The Guardian

Quinoa flowers were marked at anthesis, and seeds were sampled at 12, 16, 20 and 24 days after anthesis.

From Nature

Glammers are the ugly anthesis of the old state park ethos of down scale friendliness and simple tastes.

From New York Times

The tall, whippet-slender Walter is the anthesis of her recent on-screen characters — sweet and funny, with a kind word for everyone.

From Los Angeles Times