cigar flower: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “cigar flower” mean?
A tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves, wrapped in tobacco leaf or paper, for smoking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves, wrapped in tobacco leaf or paper, for smoking.
By extension, anything shaped like a cigar, such as certain spacecraft, military munitions, or a type of cigar-shaped flower (e.g., cigar plant).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The word 'cigar' itself is standard in both. Minor differences may exist in colloquial terms for cheap cigars (e.g., 'stogie' is more common in American English).
Connotations
Similar connotations of luxury, celebration, or relaxation. In business contexts, 'having a cigar' can metaphorically imply a deal's successful conclusion.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to cultural associations with historical figures and certain celebrations.
Grammar
How to Use “cigar flower” in a Sentence
VERB + cigar: smoke, light, puff, roll, buy, offerADJ + cigar: Cuban, expensive, cheap, fat, lit, unlitcigar + NOUN: box, smoke, ash, case, shopVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cigar flower” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He likes to cigar after dinner.
- They were cigaring on the terrace.
American English
- He likes to cigar after dinner.
- They were cigaring on the porch.
adjective
British English
- He has a cigar-like posture.
- The cigar smoke filled the room.
American English
- He has a cigar-shaped torpedo.
- The cigar smell filled the room.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'After closing the deal, they lit cigars.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical, cultural, or public health studies.
Everyday
Common when discussing habits, gifts, or specific occasions like weddings.
Technical
In botany for plants with cigar-shaped flowers (e.g., Cuphea ignea).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cigar flower”
- Mispronouncing as /'saɪ.ɡɑːr/ (like 'sigh-gar').
- Using 'cigar' to mean a single cigarette.
- Incorrect plural: 'cigars' (correct), not 'cigares'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cigars are larger, made of whole tobacco leaves, and the smoke is usually not inhaled. Cigarettes are smaller, contain processed tobacco, and the smoke is inhaled.
Yes, 'cigar' is countable (e.g., one cigar, two cigars, a box of cigars).
Informally, yes, meaning 'to smoke a cigar' (e.g., 'They were cigaring on the balcony'), but it is not common in formal writing.
It means you came very close to succeeding but ultimately did not win or achieve the goal.
A tightly rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves, wrapped in tobacco leaf or paper, for smoking.
Cigar flower is usually neutral in register.
Cigar flower: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈɡɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɪˈɡɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Close, but no cigar (almost successful)”
- “What's that got to do with the price of cigars? (irrelevant)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cigar as a 'see-gar' - you SEE someone smoking it in a BAR.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CIGAR IS A SYMBOL OF SUCCESS/CELEBRATION (lighting a cigar after a big deal).
Practice
Quiz
What is the typical shape of a traditional cigar?