helianthus

[ hee-lee-an-thuh s ]

/ ˌhi liˈæn θəs /

noun, plural he·li·an·thus·es.

any composite plant of the genus Helianthus, comprising the sunflowers.

Nearby words

heliacal, heliacal rising, heliacally, helianthemum, helianthine b, helianthus, heliborne, helic-, helical, helical gear, helical rack

Origin of helianthus

From New Latin, dating back to 1770–80; see origin at heli-¹, -anthous

Related formshe·li·an·tha·ceous

[hee-lee-uh n-they-shuh s] /ˌhi li ənˈθeɪ ʃəs/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for helianthus

The seeds of the sunflower (Helianthus major) have succeeded best with me, and preserved them in health longest.
The Natural History of Cage Birds|J. M. Bechstein
This species is the western form of the common sunflower, Helianthus annuus.
Flowers of Mountain and Plain|Edith S. Clements
Several species of Helianthus have a tendency to produce similar fleshy tubers at the top of the roots.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 484, April 11, 1885|Various
So we never met, though she wrote me much about herself and about "Helianthus," which was printed after her death.
Alone|Norman Douglas

The Romans saw in the flower of the Helianthus a resemblance to a Lions mouth.
Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics|Richard Folkard

British Dictionary definitions for helianthus

helianthus

/ (ˌhiːlɪˈænθəs) /

noun plural -thuses

any plant of the genus Helianthus, such as the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke, typically having large yellow daisy-like flowers with yellow, brown, or purple centres: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word Origin for helianthus

C18: New Latin, from Greek hēlios sun + anthos flower

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