Jump To:

• senna
  senna

  noun

  any plant, shrub, or tree belonging to the genus Cassia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and large clusters of flowers.
• Senna
  Senna

  noun

  Ayrton (ˈɛətən). 1960–94, Brazilian racing driver: world champion (1988, 1990, 1991)

senna

American  

[sen-uh] / ˈsɛn ə /

noun

1. any plant, shrub, or tree belonging to the genus Cassia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and large clusters of flowers.

2. any of various cathartic drugs consisting of the dried leaflets of certain of these plants, as one drug Alexandrian senna derived from C. acutifolia, or another Tinnevelly senna derived from C. angustifolia.

3. wild senna.

---

senna ¹ British  

/ ˈsɛnə /

noun

1. any of various tropical plants of the leguminous genus Cassia , esp C. angustifolia ( Arabian senna ) and C. acutifolia ( Alexandrian senna ), having typically yellow flowers and long pods

2. the dried leaflets of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative

3. the dried fruits of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative

---

Senna ² British  

/ ˈsɛnə /

noun

1. Ayrton (ˈɛətən). 1960–94, Brazilian racing driver: world champion (1988, 1990, 1991)

---

Etymology

Origin of senna

1535–45; < New Latin < Arabic sanā

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

senna Senna

Whether or not they actually suggested it, the “black ball” recipe contains dried raisins and figs, olive oil, charcoal, glycerin, senna and slippery elm.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023

Other recent blooms include a native grass called needle grama, brittle creosote, desert senna, Acton encelia or brittlebush, and big galleta grass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2021

They include various asclepias, tithonia, giant coneflower and the Maryland wild senna, the last a native plant deserving much more garden use.

From Washington Post ● May 28, 2019

Flat Tummy Co’s tea contains senna, a laxative, which Scherr said could help with bloating but could also lead to dependence on laxatives.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 29, 2018

"I dare say you did, sir," quoth Mrs. Myrtle, with one of those aggravated shudders which are generally produced by the anticipation of senna and salts.

From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 2/2 A Romance of Real Life by James Payn

Senna won the title in 1991 in a McLaren that was inferior to the Williams FW14 being driven by Mansell, although the Williams suffered significant reliability problems that helped him.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Daniel Senna, a 31-year-old patient at the Maugeri Hospital, transmits his pain level on a screen attached to the robot's chest.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

Zanardi, like Senna, was a hero to millions across the globe.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

Zanardi died on 1 May, 32 years to the day after the loss of another motorsport icon, Ayrton Senna, a former on-track rival.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

I saw a director, the Muslim-Indian director, capture the smoking, tragic charisma of Ayrton Senna.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed