SAFFLOWER

safflower, false saffron, Carthamus tinctorius

(noun) thistlelike Eurasian plant widely grown for its red or orange flower heads and seeds that yield a valuable oil

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

safflower (plural safflowers)

A cultivated thistle-like plant, Carthamus tinctorius, family Asteraceae, now grown mainly for its oil.

Synonyms

• bastard saffron

Source: Wiktionary


Saf"flow`er, n. Etym: [F. safeur, safior, for safran, influenced by fleur flower. See Saffron, and Flower.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: An annual composite plant (Carthamus tinctorius), the flowers of which are used as a dyestuff and in making rouge; bastard, or false, saffron.

2. The died flowers of the Carthamus tinctorius.

3. A dyestuff from these flowers. See Safranin (b). Oil of safflower, a purgative oil expressed from the seeds of the safflower.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

8 January 2025

SYCAMORE

(noun) Eurasian maple tree with pale grey bark that peels in flakes like that of a sycamore tree; leaves with five ovate lobes yellow in autumn


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Coffee Trivia

Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be “dancing” after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. That’s how the first coffee drink was born.

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