Definition of "snowflake" [snow•flake]

• A single flake or crystal of snow. (noun)
• Any of several bulbous European herbs of the genus Leucojum, having white or whitish flowers and fleshy fruit. (noun)
• See snow bunting. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "In a couple of days I may go ahead and explain how the snowflake is a dangerous icon of a nature goddess and brainwashes children."
• "For example, a snowflake is a highly-structured, nearly fractal, characteristically hexagonal lattice of ice."
• "Even if we assume that everyone's fingerprints are different without having actually proved it -- just as we assume that every snowflake is different -- mistakes can be made when comparing a small partial poorly formed fingerprint to a full set of prints carefully made on a special card."