WordGarden.iogladiolus
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡlˌædɪˈəʊləs/
US
- /ˌɡlædiˈoʊləs/
Meanings
Noun
a tall flowering plant with sword-shaped leaves and colorful flower spikes
the large middle part of the sternum
Beyond the definition
Gladioli, often called "glads," are tall flowering plants known for their bright blooms that open along a long stem. Their name comes from the Latin word gladius, meaning "sword," because their leaves are long and pointed. You will often see them in summer gardens, flower shops, and bouquets where they add height and strong color.
They come in many colors, including red, pink, yellow, white, orange, and purple. People often connect them with strength, faithfulness, and remembrance, so they appear in both celebrations and more serious occasions. In everyday use, the word usually refers to the showy garden flower rather than the whole plant group.
The gladiolus is a tall flowering plant in the iris family, known for its long, sword-like leaves and rows of colorful blossoms that grow up one side of a stem. The name comes from the Latin word gladius, meaning "sword." In everyday English, people usually use the word for the familiar garden and florist flower, while gladioli is the plural form.
These plants grow from corms, which are underground storage parts similar to bulbs. They are especially popular in gardens and as cut flowers because they bring strong vertical shape and bright color. You might see them in summer flower beds, in formal arrangements, or in bouquets made for gifts, ceremonies, or memorials.
Gladioli come in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, red, orange, yellow, and purple. They are often linked with strength, faithfulness, remembrance, and sincerity. Because they are both bold and elegant, they can feel at home in a neat garden border, a market bouquet, or a vase on a kitchen table. The word usually suggests not just a plant, but a flower that stands tall and makes itself noticed.
Examples
- 1
Garden planting
She planted gladiolus bulbs along the back fence in early spring.
- 2
Funeral flowers
The florist added three white gladioli to the funeral arrangement.
- Grammargladioli
the plural form of gladiolus
- 3
Formal arrangements
Because of their height, gladiolus stems are often used in formal flower arrangements.
See also
Similar
- sword lily
- gladiola
Shades of meaning
- glad
- flower spike
Contrast
- true lily
Used with (collocations)
- gladiolus spike
- plant gladiolus corms
- cut gladiolus
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- gladiolusnoun
Forms
- gladiolipluralnoun
- gladiolusespluralnoun