safflower
[saf-lou-er]
- 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.
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Origin of safflower
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for safflower
Historical Examples
The only crops which they object to grow are kusum or safflower and san-hemp.
Rose colour or pink, is given with safflower and lemon juice.
In botany, a genus of composite plants, the most important species of which is Carthamus tinctorius, the safflower.
Chinese Rouge and Pink Saucers have much of the qualities of, and appear to be also prepared from, the safflower.
Field's ChromatographyGeorge Field
Carthamine, kr′tha-min, n. a dye obtained in crystals by a chemical process from safflower.
safflower
- 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
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Also called: false saffron
Word Origin
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
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