wallflower

2 definitions found

wallflower - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.]

wallflower - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  wallflower
      n 1: any of numerous plants of the genus Erysimum having
           fragrant yellow or orange or brownish flowers
      2: 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 [syn: wallflower, Cheiranthus cheiri, Erysimum   cheiri
         ]
      3: remains on sidelines at social event