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gladiolus

[ glad-ee-oh-luhs ]

noun

, plural glad·i·o·lus, glad·i·o·li [glad-ee-, oh, -lahy], glad·i·o·lus·es glad·i·o·li
  1. any plant of the genus Gladiolus, of the iris family, native especially to Africa, having erect, sword-shaped leaves and spikes of flowers in a variety of colors.
  2. Anatomy. the middle and largest segment of the sternum. Compare manubrium ( def 2a ), xiphisternum.


gladiolus

/ ˌɡlædɪˈəʊləs /

noun

  1. Also calledsword lilygladiola 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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiolus1

1560–70; < Latin: small sword, sword lily, equivalent to gladi ( us ) sword + -olus -ole 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiolus1

C16: from Latin: a small sword, sword lily, from gladius a sword
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Compare Meanings

How does gladiolus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

They emerged to the Coronation Street theme, played Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and This Charming Man, and left waving bunches of gladioli.

From BBC

Performances concluded with Dame Edna flinging hundreds of gladioli into the crowd, no mean feat aerodynamically.

From her humble suburban beginnings in the mid 1950s, plain Mrs Everage morphed into a global superstar, spreading her homespun philosophy and piles of gladioli wherever she went.

From BBC

She is a poet of windows and reflections; of houses and shacks in Maine; of quarries, iced-over ponds and flowers: cow parsnips, red gladioli, globe thistles, wild geraniums.

“To be Christian is to be Republican is to be ‘pro-life,’” she said recently, sitting in a renovated shed-turned-office behind her house on the 40-acre farm of willows and gladiolus where she was raised.

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More About Gladiolus

What does gladiolus mean?

The name gladiolus can refer to any plant in the genus Gladiolus, which is in the iris family. They are known for their sword-shaped leaves and brightly colored, funnel-shaped flowers.

Due to the shape of its leaves, the gladiolus is sometimes called the sword lily. A gladiolus can also be called a gladiola. Gladiolus plants are sometimes informally called glads for short. The plural of gladiolus can be gladiolus, gladioli, or gladioluses.

There are more than 300 species of gladiolus and their flowers come in many different colors. They are commonly used as ornamental flowers by gardeners and florists.

The gladiolus is the one of the August birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone).

The word gladiolus has another meaning in the context of anatomy, in which it refers to the middle and largest segment of the sternum (the breastbone).

Example: We used four different kinds of gladiolus to make the wedding bouquet.

Where does gladiolus come from?

The first records of the word gladiolus in English come from the mid-1500s. It ultimately comes from the Latin gladi(us), meaning “sword.” The word gladiator is based on the same root.

Many varieties of gladiolus are native to South Africa, while some other cultivated species are from the Mediterranean. Some species bloom in the springtime, while others flourish in the summer months.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to gladiolus?

  • gladioluses (plural)
  • gladioli (plural)

What are some synonyms for gladiolus?

What are some words that share a root or word element with gladiolus

What are some words that often get used in discussing gladiolus?

How is gladiolus used in real life?

The plural of gladiolus can be gladioluses, gladioli, or just gladiolus. People sometimes call them glads for short. They are popular in bouquets, gardens, and as gifts.

Try using gladiolus!

True or False?

The gladiolus is part of the iris family.

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gladiolagladius