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ethnobotany

American  
[eth-noh-bot-n-ee] / ˌɛθ noʊˈbɒt n i /

noun

  1. the plant lore and agricultural customs of a people.

  2. Anthropology. the systematic study of such lore and customs.


ethnobotany British  
/ ˌɛθnəʊˈbɒtənɪ /

noun

  1. the branch of botany concerned with the use of plants in folklore, religion, etc

"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

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of ethnobotany

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; ethno- + botany


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.

See Examples For:

Discussion-board users migrated en masse, and soon membership spanned six continents: a blogger in South Africa, an artist in Detroit, an ethnobotany researcher working in Australia.

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2019

As the focus of ethnobotany and archaeobotany, plants yield invaluable insights into the past.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 13, 2018

Answering that question depends on how you define manna, which could be its own concentration in biblical studies and ethnobotany.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 3, 2018

“Hoeven and Cramer's announcement is irresponsible and inaccurate,” said Linda Black Elk, a Standing Rock camp medic and professor of ethnobotany at Sitting Bull College on the reservation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2017

The convergence of molecular biology, anthropology, and ecology make the field of ethnobotany a truly multidisciplinary science.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

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