Definition

Noun: 1. Gladiolus: A type of flowering plant belonging to the iris family (Iridaceae), characterized by tall flower spikes and sword-shaped leaves. The word is a direct loanword from the botanical name. * Vườn nhà bà tôi trồng rất nhiều la đơn với đủ màu sắc. (My grandmother's garden grows many gladioli in all colors.) * La đơn thường nở vào mùa hè. (Gladioli usually bloom in summer.)

Usage Notes

• La đơn is a specific botanical term. In everyday conversation, people might use the more descriptive name "hoa lay ơn" (which is also derived from "gladiolus") to refer to the same flower.
• It is typically used as a countable noun.
• The plural form in English is "gladioli" or "gladioluses".

Advanced Usage

• The word is primarily used in botanical, horticultural, or floral contexts. It is less common in general daily speech than "hoa lay ơn".

Variants and Related Words

• Hoa lay ơn: This is the more common Vietnamese name for the gladiolus flower. It is a phonetic adaptation of the word "gladiolus".
• Kiếm lan: An older or less common poetic/literary name for the gladiolus, referencing its sword-shaped leaves ("kiếm" means sword).

Synonyms

• Gladiolus (English loanword, identical meaning)
• Sword lily (Descriptive English name, referring to the shape of its leaves and flowers)

noun

1. gladiolus