purslane
Americannoun
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a low, trailing plant, Portulaca oleracea, having yellow flowers, used as a salad plant and potherb.
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any other plant of the purslane family.
noun
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a weedy portulacaceous plant, Portulaca oleracea, with small yellow flowers and fleshy leaves, which are used in salads and as a potherb
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any of various similar or related plants, such as sea purslane and water purslane
Etymology
Origin of purslane
1350–1400; Middle English purcelan ( e ) < Middle French porcelaine < Late Latin porcillāgin- (stem of porcillāgō ), for Latin porcillāca, variant of portulāca portulaca
Vocabulary lists containing purslane
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.
Meanwhile, Ziglar harvested a bunch of purslane from the couple’s large plot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025
White clover and edible purslane both attract beneficial insects, for instance.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2024
Even in summer, Reem cycles in grilled or raw corn, pomegranate seeds, pickled cherries, or fresh purslane.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2022
The researchers tallied cheatgrass and other common plants, including dandelions and an herbaceous weed called purslane.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 23, 2021
The room faced the yard and overlooked the long, sloping garden, which was filled with flowers: bright red geraniums, sweet-smelling mignonette, and purslane with red, orange, yellow, and pink blossoms.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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