Meaning & use
gladioli
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“gladioli” is a form of “gladiolus”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountablebiology
Tall garden plants with sword-shaped leaves and brightly colored flowers growing in a row along a spike.
Grammar: Usually plural; the singular is 'gladiolus'. e.g., 'a bunch of gladioli'.
Patterns
- a bunch of gladioli
- grow gladioli
- gladioli bulbs
She planted gladioli along the back fence for a splash of summer color.
The florist arranged gladioli and roses in a tall vase.
Gladioli need well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine.
Word forms
| singular | gladiolus |
|---|
Common combinations
- a stem of gladioli
- He bought a single stem of gladioli for the table.
- gladioli bulbs
- Plant the gladioli bulbs in spring after the last frost.
- wild gladioli
- Wild gladioli grow in the meadows near the coast.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sword lily
- A common name for the same flower, referring to its sword-shaped leaves.
Word family
- gladiolus noun
- Singular form of the same plant.
Commonly confused: gladioli or gladiola?
gladioli vs gladiola
A nonstandard singular; the correct singular is 'gladiolus'.
Practice
Which sentence uses the correct singular form?
Choose one answer.
The singular is 'gladiolus'. 'Gladioli' is plural, so 'a gladioli' is incorrect. 'Gladioluses' is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gladioli”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.