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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiolus¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gladiolus¹

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

Example Sentences

“I like everyone to have their cameo,” she says of her approach, which might showcase a sword-shaped ‘Peter Pears’ apricot gladiolus in a narrow-necked blue celadon vase or a pair of velvety dark red ranunculus whose stalks stretch high above a small, urnlike vessel.

From New York Times

The inaugural champion, 11-year-old Frank Neuhauser of Louisville, correctly spelled “gladiolus” to claim a prize of $500 at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

From New York Times

Across the street, Gladiolus Food Pantry also lost a walk-in freezer full of food, the remains piled in dozens of trash bags out front.

From Washington Post

“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.

From Los Angeles Times

Police said they launched Operation Gladiolus in December 2020 in a bid to track him down.

From BBC