A flower is the colorful part of a plant that makes seeds and is often fragrant. People grow flowers for beauty, for gifts, and sometimes for food or medicine.
“Flower” comes from Old French “flor” or “flour,” from Latin “flos,” meaning “flower” or “bloom.” It once shared a spelling with “flour,” both meaning the “best part” of something.
Flowers are basically plant billboards, advertising to insects and birds with color and scent. When you enjoy a flower’s beauty, you’re reacting to signals that evolved to attract pollinators.
'Flower' has been used as a metaphor for idealized femininity, often tying women's value to youth, beauty, and delicacy ('the flower of womanhood'). This metaphor has supported narrow gender norms and ageism.
Use 'flower' literally for plants, and avoid metaphors that reduce people—especially women—to decorative or fragile 'flowers.' If using metaphor, apply it across genders or focus on qualities like growth rather than appearance.
["person","individual","talent (for 'flower of youth')"]
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