safflower

[ saf-lou-er ]

/ ˈsæfˌlaʊ ər /

noun

a thistlelike composite plant, Carthamus tinctorius, native to the Old World, having finely toothed leaves and large, orange-red flower heads.

its dried florets, used medicinally or as a red dyestuff.

Nearby words

safety-deposit, safety-deposit box, safety-pin, saffi, saffian, safflower, safflower oil, saffron, safi, safid rud, safranin

Origin of safflower

1575–85; < Dutch saffloer < Middle French safleur, alteration (assimilated to safran saffron and fleur flower) of Italian asfori < Arabic aṣfar yellow

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

Examples from the Web for safflower

They are far cheaper than safflower, and this agent has consequently been almost driven from the market.
The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV|R.V. Russell
The safflower and henna supplied the women with dyes for the stuffs which they manufactured from hemp and flax.
History Of Egypt, Chalda, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 3 (of 12)|G. Maspero
Safflower turns yellow by the action of potassa, and the original rose shade is not restored by washing with water.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 363, December 16, 1882|Various
Yellow is given with the yellow colouring matter of safflower (carthamus,) which is readily extracted by water.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines|Andrew Ure

Rose colour or pink, is given with safflower and lemon juice.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines|Andrew Ure

British Dictionary definitions for safflower

safflower

/ (ˈsæflaʊə) /

noun

a thistle-like Eurasian annual plant, Carthamus tinctorius, having large heads of orange-yellow flowers and yielding a dye and an oil used in paints, medicines, etc: family Asteraceae (composites)

a red dye used for cotton and for colouring foods and cosmetics, or a drug obtained from the florets of this plant

Also called: false saffron

Word Origin for safflower

C16: via Dutch saffloer or German safflor from Old French saffleur, from Early Italian saffiore, of uncertain origin. Influenced by saffron, 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