flour

Definitions

flour is literally the same word as flower (both from Latin flōs, 'flower,' via Old French flour). The finest, most refined part of ground grain was called the 'flower of the meal' — its choicest essence. The spellings were identical for centuries before English split flour (baking) from flower (garden).

Why It Means This

Why does the baking powder share a word with garden flowers? Because to medieval millers, the fine white powder sifted from the heart of the grain was its 'flower' — the best, purest part, exactly as a blossom is a plant's prized peak. 'Flower' and 'flour' were one word; English only later froze two spellings to keep the kitchen and the garden apart.

Common Collocations

• 1.all-purpose flour通用面粉
• 2.whole wheat flour全麦面粉
• 3.plain flour普通面粉（无添加）
• 4.self-raising flour自发面粉
• 5.a bag of flour一袋面粉

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Sift the flour before adding it to the batter.

• 2.

  She uses whole wheat flour to make her bread healthier.

• 3.

  Lightly flour the surface so the dough won't stick.

Easily Confused

flour vs flower — identical in sound and origin, but flour is the baking powder (a bag of flour) and flower is the bloom on a plant (a vase of flowers). When in doubt: you bake with floUR, you smell a floWER.