burdock

American  

[bur-dok] / ˈbɜr dɒk /

noun

• burdocks
  plural

1. a composite plant of the genus Arctium, especially A. lappa, a coarse, broad-leaved weed bearing prickly heads of burs that stick to the clothing.

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burdock British  

/ ˈbɜːˌdɒk /

noun

1. a coarse weedy Eurasian plant of the genus Arctium , having large heart-shaped leaves, tiny purple flowers surrounded by hooked bristles, and burlike fruits: family Asteraceae (composites)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• burdocks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of burdock

First recorded in 1590–1600; bur ¹ + dock ⁴

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

burdock burdocks

A weedy meadow Full of burdock and daisies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

This healing tea consists of sarsaparilla root, ginger, licorice root, cinnamon, burdock root, juniper berry, black pepper, dandelion root, clove oil and cinnamon bark oil.

From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2022

Andrew Taylor was hidden under hundreds of seedheads from burdock plants that grow locally for the Burryman's Day celebration through South Queensferry.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2021

While many younger Black people didn’t grow up going to the woods to “shop,” they have learned about lesser-known fruits such as serviceberries and the common cold remedy burdock root through books or the internet.

From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2021

I put a lot of work into that imagined body, white as a burdock root, flabby as pork fat.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

What had set me off on this track, a track that became narrower and narrower and finally petered out in a field bestrewn with burdocks and cow pats?

From The Guardian ● Jun. 22, 2013

Then he covered himself all over with trailing strands of goose grass and big burdocks and he even found ways to alter his smell.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Along the edge of the path is a thicket of weeds: goldenrod, ragweed, asters, burdocks, deadly nightshade, its berries red as valentine candies.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

After a glance at the Efrafans, Silver spoke quickly to Thethuthinnang, who slipped back through the burdocks.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

First, we waded through the plantains and burdocks, at a slow walk, with a stumble now and then, which set my little heart to quaking like a swampy bog trod upon.

From Phemie Frost's Experiences by Ann S. (Ann Sophia) Stephens