flori-

1. a combining form meaning “flower,” used in the formation of compound words:

   floriferous.

Word History and Origins

Origin of flori-¹

< Latin flōri-, equivalent to flōr- (stem of flōs ) flower + -i- -i-

Example Sentences

"Lilium, cojus vox generali et licentiosa usurpatione adscribitur omni flori commendabili" (Laurembergius, 1632).

From Project Gutenberg

The house, of which one could only see a piece of wall with two windows and a roof, belonged to Marcu Flori Cucu.

From Project Gutenberg

It may refer to a treatise by Carlo Flori, which bears a title like this.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use flori-

What does flori- mean?

Flori– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “flower.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in botany and biology.

Flori– ultimately comes from the Latin flōs, meaning “flower.” The terms florescence (not to be confused with fluorescence), florid, and even flower are ultimately related to this same Latin root. Find out how at our entries for florescence and florid.

The Greek equivalents of flor– include the combining forms anth–, antho–, and, at the end of words, –anthous. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these three forms.

What are variants of flori-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, flori– becomes flor–, as in florist. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use flor– article.

Examples of flori-

One example of a scientific term that features the combining form flori– is floriculture, “the cultivation of flowers or flowering plants, especially for ornamental purposes.”

We know that flori– means “flower,” but the –culture part of the word, despite its appearance, doesn’t relate to the fine arts. In biology, culture means “care of plants,” from Latin cultūra. Floriculture has a literal sense “growing flowers.”

What are some words that use the combining form flori-?

• floriated
• floricane
• floriferous (using the equivalent form of flori– in Latin)
• florigen
• florilegium (using the equivalent form of flori– in Latin)

What are some other forms that flori– may be commonly confused with?

• flex-
• flav-
• fluor-

Break it down!

The combining form –gen means “that which produces.” With this in mind, what would the hypothetical substance florigen do?