gillyflower

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun any of several Old World plants cultivated for their brightly colored flowers
  2. noun Eurasian plant with pink to purple-red spice-scented usually double flowers; widely cultivated in many varieties and many colors

Etymology

By folk etymology (with influence from flower) from French girofle, gilofre, from Late Latin caryophyllum, from Ancient Greek καρυόφυλλον (karuóphullon, “dried flower buds of the clove tree”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

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