echinacea

American  

[ek-uh-ney-shuh, -see-uh] / ˌɛk əˈneɪ ʃə, -si ə /

noun

1. any of several coneflowers of the genus Echinacea whose leaves, roots, and other parts are used in herbal medicine to promote wound healing and enhance the immune system.

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echinacea British  

/ ˌɛkɪˈneɪʃɪə /

noun

1. Also called: purple coneflower.  either of the two N American plants of the genus Echinacea, having flower heads with purple rays and black centres: family Compositae (composites) See coneflower

2. the powdered root of either of these plants, used to stimulate the immune system

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Etymology

Origin of echinacea

First recorded in 1825–30; from New Latin Echīnācea, genus name, from Latin echīnus “sea urchin,” from Greek echînos “hedgehog, sea urchin, a kind of plant” + -acea ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

echinacea

She also says echinacea, turmeric and ginger shots are not going to give you an immune boost.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025

Summer-blooming perennials, such as sedum, lavender, echinacea and other plants that don’t need very much summer water, carry interest on through the growing season.

From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2024

He went on to list some of the supplements that haven’t shown benefits in trials: turmeric, St. John’s wort, ginkgo, echinacea.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 24, 2020

“I didn’t like dirt, I didn’t like bugs,” he said as he prepared some flowering echinacea for a circular bed.

From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2019

When Mother couldn’t get the swelling down with echinacea and calendula, Dad suggested his own remedy.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover