castor-oil plant

noun

cas·​tor-oil plant
: a tropical Old World herb (Ricinus communis) widely grown as an ornamental or for its oil-rich castor beans

Examples of castor-oil plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For florists, the danger isn’t metaphorical; Thompson recalls a colleague who was momentarily blinded when handling a castor-oil plant. Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of castor-oil plant was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near castor-oil plant

Cite this Entry

“Castor-oil plant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/castor-oil%20plant. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

castor-oil plant

noun
: a tropical Old World herb widely grown as an ornamental plant or for its oil-rich seeds

Medical Definition

castor-oil plant

noun
: a tropical Old World herb of the genus Ricinus (R. communis) widely grown as an ornamental or for its oil-rich castor beans that are a source of castor oil

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