castor-oil plant
[ kas-ter-oil, kah-ster- ]
/ ˈkæs tərˈɔɪl, ˈkɑ stər- /
Save This Word!
noun
a tall plant, Ricinus communis, of the spurge family, cultivated for its ornamental foliage and having poisonous seeds that are the source of castor oil.
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Also called castor bean.
Origin of castor-oil plant
First recorded in 1835–45
Words nearby castor-oil plant
castor, Castor and Pollux, castor bean, castoreum, castor oil, castor-oil plant, castor sugar, cast out, cast pearls before swine, castrate, castrated
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for castor-oil plant
British Dictionary definitions for castor-oil plant
castor-oil plant
noun
a tall euphorbiaceous Indian plant, Ricinus communis, cultivated in tropical regions for ornament and for its poisonous seeds, from which castor oil is extractedAlso called (US and Canadian): castor bean
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