starwort

American  

[stahr-wurt, -wawrt] / ˈstɑrˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt /

noun

1. any of several chickweeds of the genus Stellaria.

2. any of several plants of the genera Aster and Arenaria.

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starwort British  

/ ˈstɑːˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of several plants with star-shaped flowers, esp the stitchwort

2. any of several aquatic plants of the genus Callitriche , having a star-shaped rosette of floating leaves: family Callitrichaceae

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Etymology

Origin of starwort

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at star, wort ²

Example Sentences

Alpine meadows burst with blossoms and colors including yellow rhododendron, purple mountain heather, pink azaleas, fuchsia fireweeds, and the white stars of the eschscholtz starwort.

From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2019

Through tall buttercups and field daisies they raced each other like children,— startling astonished bees from repasts in clover-cups—and shaking butterflies away from their amours on the starwort and celandines.

From God's Good Man by Corelli, Marie

For six years thou mayst neither speak nor laugh, and in that time thou must sew together six little shirts of starwort for us.

From Household Tales by Brothers Grimm by Hunt, Margaret

It was merely by chance that one, in its upward rush, hit his envelope of starwort; it was merely by chance that the envelope needed no greater stimulus to burst asunder.

From "Wee Tim'rous Beasties" Studies of Animal life and Character by English, Douglas

They hide under stones at the bottom of the water and among the weeds, especially among watercress and starwort.

From Old Flies in New Dresses How to Dress Dry Flies with the Wings in the Natural Position and Some New Wet Flies by Walker, Charles Edward