double-flower
|dou-ble-flow-er|
🇺🇸
/ˌdʌbəlˈflaʊɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˌdʌbəlˈflaʊə/
producing double flowers
Etymology
'double-flower' is a compound formed in English from the adjective 'double' and the noun 'flower'. 'double' ultimately comes from Latin via Old French, and 'flower' comes from Old French 'flor' (Latin 'flos, floris').
The element 'double' came into English from Old French (e.g. 'duble, doble') from Latin 'duplus' (or related forms), while 'flower' came via Old French 'flor' from Latin 'flos'. The modern compound 'double-flower' developed in English by combining these two native/borrowed elements to describe a bloom with twofold or extra petals.
Individually, 'double' originally meant 'twofold' and 'flower' meant 'blossom'; combined, the compound came to mean a blossom that appears 'twofold' or fuller because of extra petals — a specialized horticultural sense.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a flower that has extra petals so that it appears fuller or 'double' (often caused by petaloid stamens); a double bloom.
A double-flower attracted many insects to the border.
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Verb 1
to produce or develop double flowers (to bloom with extra petals).
Some cultivars double-flower reliably in cool climates.
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Adjective 1
having double blooms or characterized by double flowers (used attributively).
They chose a double-flower variety for the front border.
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Last updated: 2026/01/05 04:41