ˌgladēˈōləs sometimes gləˈdīələs noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, small sword, gladiolus, diminutive of gladius sword
1.
a. capitalized : a genus of plants (family Iridaceae) native chiefly to Africa with a few native to Europe and Asia that have erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from flattened corms
b. plural gladiolus “ or gladio·li -ēˈōˌlī, -ēˈō(ˌ)lē; -ˈīəˌlī also gladioluses : any plant of the genus Gladiolus
2. -es : a strong red that is bluer and paler than Goya, bluer than average cherry red, and bluer and darker than geranium (sense 3a)
3. plural gladioli : the large middle portion of the sternum lying between the upper manubrium and the lower xiphoid process — called also mesosternum
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