flax

noun

ˈflaks 

often attributive

1

: any of a genus (Linum of the family Linaceae, the flax family) of herbs

especially : a slender erect annual (L. usitatissimum) with blue flowers commonly cultivated for its bast fiber and seed

2

: the fiber of the flax plant especially when prepared for spinning

3

: any of several plants resembling flax

flaxy

ˈflak-sē 

adjective

Examples of flax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anderson-Haynes said other types of seafood and fish, seaweed, walnuts, flax seeds, or chia seeds are good dietary sources of omega-3s. —Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2025

The flax plant from which linen is made is grown with natural rainwater, no GMOs, and very few pesticides. —Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Feb. 2025

Icy blue paneling pairs with a flax linen bed and creamy ivory walls. —Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Feb. 2025

The preserve is famous for its wildflowers, many of them endemic to Marin County; rare flowers in the area include the Tiburon paintbrush, Tiburon buckwheat, Marin dwarf flax and the Tiburon jewelflower. —Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fleax; akin to Old High German flahs flax, Latin plectere to braid — more at ply

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flax

• axe
• backs
• blacks
• cracks
• fax
• hacks
• jacks
• knacks
• lacks
• lakhs
• lax
• macs

Kids Definition

flax

noun

ˈflaks 

: a slender plant with blue flowers that is grown for its fiber from which linen is made and for its seed from which oil and livestock feed are obtained

also : its fiber