calyx

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun (botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green

From Latin calyx, from Ancient Greek κάλυξ (kálux, “case of a bud, husk”). Doublet of chalice and kelch.

At its summit is the calyx and stigma. — On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls, Lina Beard
Draw the calyx through your hand, bringing the points together (Fig. — Little Folks' Handy Book, Lina Beard
Her little hands were clasped, and enclosed by Sir James’s as a bud is enfolded by a liberal calyx. — Middlemarch, George Eliot

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