safflower

[ saf-lou-er ]

noun
  1. a thistlelike composite plant, Carthamus tinctorius, native to the Old World, having finely toothed leaves and large, orange-red flower heads.

  2. its dried florets, used medicinally or as a red dyestuff.

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Origin of safflower

1
1575–85; <Dutch saffloer<Middle French safleur, alteration (assimilated to safransaffron and fleurflower) of Italian asfori<Arabic aṣfar yellow

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British Dictionary definitions for safflower

safflower

/ (ˈsæflaʊə) /


noun
  1. a thistle-like Eurasian annual plant, Carthamus tinctorius, having large heads of orange-yellow flowers and yielding a dye and an oil used in paints, medicines, etc: family Asteraceae (composites)

  2. a red dye used for cotton and for colouring foods and cosmetics, or a drug obtained from the florets of this plant

Origin of safflower

1
C16: via Dutch saffloer or German safflor from Old French saffleur, from Early Italian saffiore, of uncertain origin. Influenced by saffron, flower
  • Also called: false saffron

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012