# sunflower

/ˈsənˌfɫaʊɝ/ (US) · /sˈʌnflaʊɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sunflower
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the plant

noun · CEFR A2

a tall plant with a large, round, yellow flower that turns to face the sun.

For teachers: a plant of the genus Helianthus, typically having a very large, disk-shaped floral head surrounded by bright yellow petals.

- The sunflowers in the garden grew taller than the fence by mid-summer.
- Fields of sunflowers are cultivated across the region both for their aesthetic appeal and for the commercial production of vegetable oil.

### 2. the color

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. railway indicator

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. chemistry structure

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The sunflower grows taller than the garden fence.
- Farmers in the region plant sunflowers in late spring to harvest the seeds for oil production.
- The artist spent the afternoon capturing the way the sunflower heads tilted toward the light, a biological phenomenon known as heliotropism.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.