sunflower

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. a bright, warm yellow color like the petals of the flower.

n. a specific shade of bright yellow resembling the ray florets of the Helianthus plant.

“She chose a sunflower yellow paint for the nursery to make it feel cheerful.”

“The artist used a vibrant sunflower hue to highlight the contrast between the foreground petals and the deep blue of the sky.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technology British English · Technical

n. a yellow and black circular signal inside a train driver's cabin.

n. a visual indicator in a train cab, part of the Automatic Warning System, which displays a yellow and black pattern after a warning is acknowledged.

“The driver checked the sunflower on the dashboard after passing the warning signal.”

“Upon acknowledging the audible alert, the sunflower indicator changed state to remind the driver of the restrictive signal ahead.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Informal · Technical

n. a type of chemical molecule that looks like a flat circle with parts coming out from the center.

n. a descriptive term for flat, radially symmetric organic compounds, such as coronene, due to their structural resemblance to the flower.

“The professor explained how the sunflower structure of the molecule affects its stability.”

“Researchers observed that the sunflower-like symmetry of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons facilitates unique electronic properties.”