flax Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric
  2. noun plant of the genus Linum that is cultivated for its seeds and for the fibers of its stem

WordNet

Flax noun
Etymology
AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G. flachs, and prob. to flechten to braid, plait,m twist, L. plectere to weave, plicare to fold, Gr. to weave, plait. See Ply.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.
  2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.

Webster 1913