gentian
Americannoun
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any of several plants of the genera Gentiana, Gentianella, and Gentianopsis, having usually blue, or sometimes yellow, white, or red, flowers, as the fringed gentian of North America, or Gentiana lutea, of Europe.
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any of various plants resembling the gentian.
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the root of G. lutea, or a preparation of it, used as a tonic.
noun
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any gentianaceous plant of the genera Gentiana or Gentianella , having blue, yellow, white, or red showy flowers
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the bitter-tasting dried rhizome and roots of Gentiana lutea ( European or yellow gentian ), which can be used as a tonic
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any of several similar plants, such as the horse gentian
Etymology
Origin of gentian
1350–1400; Middle English gencian < Latin gentiāna; said to be named after Gentius, an Illyrian king
Vocabulary lists containing gentian
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.
It also consists of no artificial flavors and only natural ingredients including riesling white-grape juice concentrate, gentian root extract and lemon balm extract.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2022
Added to bottled soft drinks since the late 19th century, gentian root has a long history as a bittering agent.
From New York Times ● Aug. 23, 2021
Citrusy and floral, with an uncloying sweetness that’s invigorated with bitter gentian and wormwood, it’s best enjoyed over ice or in a simple spritz.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 11, 2019
He has tried to add genes from gentian that modify the delphinidin and genes from the genus Torenia that produce copigments.
From Science Magazine ● May 2, 2019
In the way of medical treatments, she had already dabbed gentian violet on ringworm, aquaflavine emulsion on a cut, and painted lead lotion on a bruise.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
