euphorbia

noun

eu·​phor·​bia yü-ˈfȯr-bē-ə How to pronounce euphorbia (audio)
: any of a large genus (Euphorbia) of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the spurge family that have a milky juice and flowers lacking a calyx and included in an involucre which surrounds a group of several staminate flowers and a central pistillate flower with 3-lobed pistils
broadly : spurge

Examples of euphorbia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Plus, with whorls of rubbery leaves, certain euphorbias create a fun, funky shape. Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 In springtime, plant euphorbias in full sun near the border’s front. Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 These would include bleeding heart, foxglove, euphorbia, helleborus, irises, milkweed, peonies, azaleas, rhododendrons, and wisteria. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023 Combine 'Diamond Frost' euphorbia, asparagus fern, pink tuberous begonia, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera, 'Dragon Wing' pink begonia, and 'Sinbad' angel wing begonia. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 June 2023 The neighboring iris, coralbells, dianthus and euphorbia — all sun-lovers — would have died from lack of sun and water. Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 29 June 2019 Black rhino—some mammalian reflection of the Jurassic, thick-skinned toughness of this landscape—lumber through the ravines, lunching on the weird euphorbia plants that are toxic to most other creatures. Stanley Stewart, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Dec. 2018 Other common euphorbias include crotons, crown of thorns, and many other cactus-like plants. Kenneth Setzer, miamiherald, 14 June 2018 Between the outcroppings lie swampy valleys, or vleis, fed by rainwater runoff and rich in acacias, mopanis, figs, euphorbias and other vegetation. Joshua Hammer, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, alteration of Latin euphorbea, from Euphorbus, 1st century a.d. Greek physician

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of euphorbia was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near euphorbia

Cite this Entry

“Euphorbia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euphorbia. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

euphorbia

noun
eu·​phor·​bia yu̇-ˈfȯr-bē-ə How to pronounce euphorbia (audio)
1
: a large genus of plants of the spurge family that have a milky juice and flowers included in an involucre which surrounds a group of several staminate flowers and a central pistillate flower and that include a number which have been used medicinally
2
: any plant of the genus Euphorbia
also : any of various other plants that belong to the spurge family
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