flora

¹

[ flawr-uh, flohr-uh ]

noun

, plural flo·ras, flo·rae [flawr, -ee, flohr, -ee]

1. the plants of a particular region or period, listed by species and considered as a whole.
2. a work systematically describing such plants.
3. plants, as distinguished from fauna.
4. the aggregate of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms normally occurring on or in the bodies of humans and other animals:

   intestinal flora.

Flora

²

[ flawr-uh, flohr-uh ]

noun

1. a female given name.

Flora

¹

/ ˈflɔːrə /

noun

1. the Roman goddess of flowers

flora

²

/ ˈflɔːrə /

noun

1. all the plant life of a given place or time
2. a descriptive list of such plants, often including a key for identification
3. short for intestinal flora

flora

/ flôr′ə /

, Plural floras flôr′ē′

1. The plants of a particular region or time period.
2. The bacteria and other microorganisms that normally inhabit a bodily organ or part, such as the intestine.

flora

1. Plants, especially the plants of a particular place and time.

Other Words From

• sub·flora noun plural subfloras subflorae

Word History and Origins

Origin of flora¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin, Latin Flōra the Roman goddess of flowers (used from the 17th century in the titles of botanical works), derivative of Latin flōr- (stem of flōs ) “flower”

Word History and Origins

Origin of flora¹

C16: from Latin, from flōs flower

Origin of flora²

C18: from New Latin, from Latin Flōra goddess of flowers, from flōs flower

Example Sentences

Today, the bird of paradise is one of the predominant flora across the city.

From Los Angeles Times

Flora Sandes, born in 1876, grew up in Marlesford near Wickham Market in Suffolk and joined the Serbian army after not being able to join the British.

From BBC

Ota: “Flora and her family lived at the end of the street where I used to go for a walk. I would sit on my walker and rest before turning around and she would come and bring me flowers. Then she started coming over and we just became friends. Now we get together a lot.”

From Los Angeles Times

Ota: “A friend like Flora keeps things lively. Young people are so full of life. And connecting with young people makes you recall when you were young and your children were young.”

From Los Angeles Times

Organized by a nonprofit organization called The 3F Initiative, the two governments are proposing that fungi be included alongside flora sand fauna as a separate realm for conservation efforts.

From Salon

Related Words

• vegetation