senna
Americannoun
-
any plant, shrub, or tree belonging to the genus Cassia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and large clusters of flowers.
-
any of various cathartic drugs consisting of the dried leaflets of certain of these plants, as one drug Alexandrian senna derived from C. acutifolia, or another Tinnevelly senna derived from C. angustifolia.
noun
-
any of various tropical plants of the leguminous genus Cassia , esp C. angustifolia ( Arabian senna ) and C. acutifolia ( Alexandrian senna ), having typically yellow flowers and long pods
-
the dried leaflets of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative
-
the dried fruits of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative
noun
Etymology
Origin of senna
1535–45; < New Latin < Arabic sanā
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Zanardi died on 1 May, 32 years to the day after the loss of another motorsport icon, Ayrton Senna, a former on-track rival.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
Donnelly explained that he and Senna were reasonably close.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
Donnelly said Ayrton Senna was there when the crash happened.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
On Tuesday, she’ll discuss her work at a Vroman’s Bookstore event at Pasadena Presbyterian Church with Danzy Senna, acclaimed author of “Colored Television” and other novels.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026
I saw a director, the Muslim-Indian director, capture the smoking, tragic charisma of Ayrton Senna.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.