The Collaborative International Dictionary
Silk \Silk\, n. [OE. silk, selk, AS. seolc, seoloc; akin to Icel. silki, SW. & Dan. silke; prob. through Slavic from an Oriental source; cf. Lith. szilkai, Russ. shelk', and also L. sericum Seric stuff, silk. Cf. Sericeous. Serge a woolen stuff.]
The fine, soft thread produced by various species of caterpillars in forming the cocoons within which the worm is inclosed during the pupa state, especially that produced by the larv[ae] of Bombyx mori.
Hence, thread spun, or cloth woven, from the above-named material.
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That which resembles silk, as the filiform styles of the female flower of maize. Raw silk, silk as it is wound off from the cocoons, and before it is manufactured. Silk cotton, a cottony substance enveloping the seeds of the silk-cotton tree. Silk-cotton tree (Bot.), a name for several tropical trees of the genera Bombax and Eriodendron, and belonging to the order Bombace[ae]. The trees grow to an immense size, and have their seeds enveloped in a cottony substance, which is used for stuffing cushions, but can not be spun. Silk flower. (Bot.)
The silk tree.
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A similar tree ( Calliandra trinervia) of Peru.
Silk fowl (Zo["o]l.), a breed of domestic fowls having silky plumage.
Silk gland (Zo["o]l.), a gland which secretes the material of silk, as in spider or a silkworm; a sericterium.
Silk gown, the distinctive robe of a barrister who has been appointed king's or queen's counsel; hence, the counsel himself. Such a one has precedence over mere barristers, who wear stuff gowns. [Eng.]
Silk grass (Bot.), a kind of grass ( Stipa comata) of the Western United States, which has very long silky awns. The name is also sometimes given to various species of the genera Aqave and Yucca.
Silk moth (Zo["o]l.), the adult moth of any silkworm. See Silkworm.
Silk shag, a coarse, rough-woven silk, like plush, but with a stiffer nap.
Silk spider (Zo["o]l.), a large spider ( Nephila plumipes), native of the Southern United States, remarkable for the large quantity of strong silk it produces and for the great disparity in the sizes of the sexes.
Silk thrower, Silk throwster, one who twists or spins silk, and prepares it for weaving.
--Brande & C.Silk tree (Bot.), an Asiatic leguminous tree ( Albizzia Julibrissin) with finely bipinnate leaves, and large flat pods; -- so called because of the abundant long silky stamens of its blossoms. Also called silk flower.
Silk vessel. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Silk gland, above.
Virginia silk (Bot.), a climbing plant ( Periploca Gr[ae]ca) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe.
Usage examples of "silk flower".
Now all she needed to restore the dress were pearls (hers wouldn't be genuine, but the originals hadn't been either) and a silk flower to replace the limp brown specimen on the hipline.
The silk flower arrangements topple and red silk roses, red silk geraniums, and blue iris sail out the door and flutter around Fertility.
I straightened the little wire and silk flower I'd worn the day before and had transferred to my red quilted jacket, then noticed again the muddy grey marks Dulsung's boots had left by my lapels.
The woman adjusted the scooped neckline of Casey's gown and patted a silk flower into place.
It was an orange silk flower swaying in a woman's hair as she took her place on her knees.
Over dusty silk flower displays on formica tables they discussed how to cut up Rory Peach.
Her backside pointed straight at Bruce like the centre of a silk flower.
But before she realized what she was doing, the blue uniform was hanging in the closet and she was standing in the elevator in a bias-cut, coppery-colored slip dress of silk, piped in saffron that plunged devilishly low in back and front and was dashed with a silk flower at a V far below her breasts.
There was an attractive silk flower arrangement in the center of the large, round table.
I'd never set foot in it, mind you, but I'd heard tales of an enormous Jacuzzi, faux marble columns, brass elephants bearing silk flower arrangements, and a swing with a red plush cushion.