Flax Definition
flăks
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.
Webster's New World
The threadlike fibers of these plants, ready for spinning.
Webster's New World
Any of a number of flaxlike plants.
Webster's New World
A pale grayish yellow.
American Heritage
adjective
Designating a family (Linaceae, order Linales) of dicotyledonous plants and shrubs usually having narrow leaves and five-part flowers.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Flax
Noun
Singular:
flax
Plural:
flaxesOrigin of Flax
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From Old English fleax, from Proto-Germanic *flahsą, from Proto-Indo-European *plek- (“to plait”). Cognate with Old Frisian flax, Old Saxon *flahs (Dutch vlas), Old High German flahs (German Flachs); the Northern Germanic (most likely the Gothic too) stem is different.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English from Old English fleax plek- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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