Adjacent Words

safflower definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: thistlelike Eurasian plant widely grown for its red or orange flower heads and seeds that yield a valuable oil [syn: safflower, false saffron, Carthamus tinctorius]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle French saffleur, from Old Italian saffiore, from Arabic ‘a?far, ‘u?fur Date: circa 1660 a widely cultivated Old World composite herb (Carthamus tinctorius) with large usually orange or red flower heads and seeds rich in oil; also a red dyestuff prepared from the flower heads

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a a thistle-like plant, Carthamus tinctorius, yielding a red dye. b its dried petals. 2 a dye made from these, used in rouge etc. Etymology: Du. saffloer or G Safflor f. OF saffleur f. obs. It. saffiore, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Safflower Saf"flow`er, n. [F. safleur, saflor, for safran, influenced by fleur flower. See Saffron, and Flower.] 1. (Bot.) 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 dried 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.