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flour

(flouər, flour)

1. A fine, powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a grain, especially wheat, used chiefly in baking.

2. Any of various similar finely ground or powdered foodstuffs, as of cassava, chickpeas, or bananas.

3. A soft, fine powder.

tr.v. floured, flour·ing, flours

1. To cover or coat with flour.

2. To make into flour.

[Middle English, flower, best of anything, flour; see FLOWER.]

floury adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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