flax
|flax|
/flæks/
plant and fiber for linen
Etymology
'flax' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'flæx', where the Proto-Germanic root '*flahsą' meant 'flax'.
'flax' changed from the Old English word 'flæx' (used in early medieval texts) and gradually became the modern English 'flax' with little change in form.
Initially it meant the plant and the fiber produced from it; over time this core meaning has remained largely the same, covering plant, fiber, and related products.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the plant Linum usitatissimum grown for its fiber and seeds.
Farmers planted flax along the riverbank.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the long fibrous material obtained from the flax plant, used for making linen and other products.
The fabric was woven from flax.
Synonyms
Noun 3
the seeds of the flax plant; linseed (often called flaxseed).
Flax is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to subject flax plants to processes for obtaining fiber or to prepare fibers from flax (rare/technical).
They flax the stems to separate the fibers for spinning.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/15 08:13