burdock

American  

[bur-dok] / ˈbɜr dɒk /

noun

• burdocks
  plural

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)

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• burdocks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of burdock

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

burdock burdocks

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

He found he liked burdock root very much, and when the strawberries turned red, he had them on his breath all day.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

What had set me off on this track, a track that became narrower and narrower and finally petered out in a field bestrewn with burdocks and cow pats?

From The Guardian ● Jun. 22, 2013

Along the edge of the path is a thicket of weeds: goldenrod, ragweed, asters, burdocks, deadly nightshade, its berries red as valentine candies.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

After a glance at the Efrafans, Silver spoke quickly to Thethuthinnang, who slipped back through the burdocks.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Then he covered himself all over with trailing strands of goose grass and big burdocks and he even found ways to alter his smell.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Though long the land waits for the curved plough to open the first furrow, there is sowing for God's grain under thistles and burdocks and nettles.

From Rosinante to the Road Again by John Dos Passos