Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural flo·ras, flo·rae [flawr-ee, flohr-ee] /ˈflɔr i, ˈfloʊr i/ for 2.
- the plants of a particular region or period, listed by species and considered as a whole.
- a work systematically describing such plants.
- plants, as distinguished from fauna.
- the aggregate of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms normally occurring on or in the bodies of humans and other animals: intestinal flora.
noun
- a female given name.
noun plural -ras or -rae (-riː)
- all the plant life of a given place or time
- a descriptive list of such plants, often including a key for identification
- short for intestinal flora
noun
- the Roman goddess of flowers
1777, “the plant life of a region or epoch,” from Latin Flora, Roman goddess of flowers, from flos (genitive floris) “flower,” from *flo-s-, Italic suffixed form of PIE *bhle- “to blossom, flourish” (cf. Middle Irish blath, Welsh blawd “blossom, flower,” Old English blowan “to flower, bloom”), extended form of *bhel- (3) “to thrive, bloom,” possibly identical with *bhel- (2) “to blow, swell” (see bole). Used as the title of descriptive plant catalogues since 1640s, but popularized by Linnaeus in his 1745 study of Swedish plants, “Flora Suecica.”
n. pl. flo•ras
- Plants considered as a group.
- The microorganisms that normally inhabit a bodily organ or part.
Plural floras florae (flôr′ē′)
- The plants of a particular region or time period.
- The bacteria and other microorganisms that normally inhabit a bodily organ or part, such as the intestine.
Plants, especially the plants of a particular place and time.