n.
Pronunciation: ˌ gla-d ē - ' ō -l ə s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -li \ -( ˌ )l ē , - ˌ l ī \
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, gladiolus, from diminutive of gladius
Date: 15th century
1 or plural gladiolus also glad · i · o · lus · es : any of a genus ( Gladiolus ) of chiefly African perennial plants of the iris family with erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from corms
2 : the large middle portion of the sternum
gladiolus 1