wallflower
pronunciation
How to pronounce wallflower in British English:
UK [ˈwɔ:lflaʊə(r)]
How to pronounce wallflower in American English:
US [ˈwɔlˌflaʊɚ]
-
- Noun:
- any of numerous plants of the genus Erysimum having fragrant yellow or orange or brownish flowers
- perennial of southern Europe having clusters of fragrant flowers of all colors especially yellow and orange; often naturalized on old walls or cliffs; sometimes placed in genus Erysimum
- remains on sidelines at social event
Word Origin
- wallflower (n.)
- 1570s, type of flowering plant cultivated in gardens, native to southern Europe, where it grows on old walls and in rocky places, from wall (n.) + flower (n.). Colloquial sense of "woman who sits by the wall at parties, often for want of a partner" is first recorded 1820.
Example
- 1. She 'd rather stay home than be a wallflower .
- 2. We all know some drop-dead beautiful person married to an unusually plain wallflower .
- 3. In short : pkmzeta , a wallflower in the great swimming party of chemicals that erupts when one cell stimulates another , looked as if it might be the one that kept the speed-dial function turned on .
- 4. She 'd rather leave early than be a wallflower .
- 5. She spent the whole evening being a wallflower .