Wallflower

Wallflower
Wallflower Wall"flow`er, n. 1. (Bot.) A perennial, cruciferous plant ({Cheiranthus Cheiri}), with sweet-scented flowers varying in color from yellow to orange and deep red. In Europe it very common on old walls. [1913 Webster]

Note: The name is sometimes extended to other species of {Cheiranthus} and of the related genus {Erysimum}, especially the American {Western wallflower} ({Erysimum asperum}), a biennial herb with orange-yellow flowers. [1913 Webster]

2. A lady at a ball, who, either from choice, or because not asked to dance, remains a spectator. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

3. (Bot.) In Australia, the desert poison bush ({Gastrolobium grandiflorum}); -- called also {native wallflower}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • wallflower — (n.) 1570s, flowering plant cultivated in gardens, from WALL (Cf. wall) (n.) + FLOWER (Cf. flower) (n.). Colloquial sense of woman who sits by the wall at parties, often for want of a partner is first recorded 1820 …   Etymology dictionary

  • wallflower — ► NOUN 1) a plant with fragrant flowers that bloom in early spring. 2) informal a girl who has no one to dance with at a dance or party …   English terms dictionary

  • wallflower — [wôl′flou΄ər] n. 1. any of a number of perennial or annual garden plants (genera Cheiranthus and Erysimum) of the crucifer family, having racemes of cross shaped flowers, usually yellow or orange; esp., a common perennial ( C. cheiri) having… …   English World dictionary

  • wallflower — I. Wallflower (UK) A woman politician given an unimportant government position so that the government can pretend it takes women seriously is a wallflower. II. Wallflower (USA) A shy person who is not asked to dance is a wallflower …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • wallflower — /wawl flow euhr/, n. 1. a person who, because of shyness, unpopularity, or lack of a partner, remains at the side at a party or dance. 2. any person, organization, etc., that remains on or has been forced to the sidelines of any activity: The… …   Universalium

  • Wallflower — Stock that has fallen out of favor with investors; tends to have a low P/E ( price to earnings ratio). The New York Times Financial Glossary * * * wallflower wall‧flow‧er [ˈwɔːlˌflaʊə ǁ ˈwɒːlˌflaʊər] noun [countable] JOURNALISM FINANCE an… …   Financial and business terms

  • wallflower — stock that has fallen out of favor with investors; stock that tends to have a low P/E ( price to earnings ratio). Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * wallflower wall‧flow‧er [ˈwɔːlˌflaʊə ǁ ˈwɒːlˌflaʊər] noun [countable] JOURNALISM FINANCE an… …   Financial and business terms

  • wallflower — [[t]wɔ͟ːlflaʊə(r)[/t]] wallflowers 1) N COUNT A wallflower is a plant that is grown in gardens and has sweet smelling yellow, red, orange, or purple flowers. 2) N COUNT If you say that someone is a wallflower, you mean that they are shy and do… …   English dictionary

  • wallflower — UK [ˈwɔːlˌflaʊə(r)] / US [ˈwɔlˌflaʊr] noun [countable] Word forms wallflower : singular wallflower plural wallflowers 1) informal someone at a social event who has no one to dance with or talk to, often because they are shy 2) a plant with yellow …   English dictionary

  • wallflower — geltonžiedė smalka statusas T sritis vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Cheiranthus cheiri angl. common wallflower; gillyflower; wallflower vok. echter Goldlack; gemeiner Goldlack rus. желтофиоль садовая; лакфиоль обыкновенная lenk. lak pachnący; lak… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

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