burdock

American  

[bur-dok] / ˈbɜr dɒk /

noun

1. a composite plant of the genus Arctium, especially A. lappa, a coarse, broad-leaved weed bearing prickly heads of burs that stick to the clothing.

---

burdock British  

/ ˈbɜːˌdɒk /

noun

1. a coarse weedy Eurasian plant of the genus Arctium , having large heart-shaped leaves, tiny purple flowers surrounded by hooked bristles, and burlike fruits: family Asteraceae (composites)

---

Etymology

Origin of burdock

First recorded in 1590–1600; bur ¹ + dock ⁴

Example Sentences

A weedy meadow Full of burdock and daisies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

When she bought other, lesser-known vegetables at the supermarket — the book also features burdock, celery root, escarole, turnips and 18 more — the checkers wouldn’t know the codes.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

This healing tea consists of sarsaparilla root, ginger, licorice root, cinnamon, burdock root, juniper berry, black pepper, dandelion root, clove oil and cinnamon bark oil.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2022

Andrew Taylor was hidden under hundreds of seedheads from burdock plants that grow locally for the Burryman's Day celebration through South Queensferry.

From BBC • Aug. 13, 2021

I put a lot of work into that imagined body, white as a burdock root, flabby as pork fat.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood