flax

Flax is defined as a plant in the family Linaceace that provides seeds for linseed oil and stem fibers that provide linen.

(noun)

An example of flax is a plant with blue flowers that has threadlike fibers in the stem that can be spun into linen thread.

The definition of flax is comes from a plant of the family Linaceae that has seeds for oil and a stem for linen.

(adjective)

An example of flax used as an adjective is in flax seed which is also made into linseed oil.

See flax in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

designating a family (Linaceae, order Linales) of dicotyledonous plants and shrubs usually having narrow leaves and five-part flowers

Origin: ME < OE fleax, akin to Ger flachs < IE base *plek-, to plait, interweave > L plectere, plicare, Ger flechten

noun

any of a genus (Linum) of the flax family; esp. a slender, erect annual plant (L. usitatissimum) with delicate, blue flowers: the seeds are used to make linseed oil, and the fibers of the stem are spun into linen thread
the threadlike fibers of these plants, ready for spinning
any of a number of flaxlike plants

See flax in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. A widely cultivated plant, Linum usitatissimum, having pale blue flowers, seeds that yield linseed oil, and slender stems from which a textile fiber is obtained.
b. The fine, light-colored textile fiber obtained from this plant.
c. Any of various other plants of the genus Linum or of similar or related genera.
A pale grayish yellow.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English fleax; see plek- in Indo-European roots

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