Arctium

noun

Arc·​ti·​um

ˈärkshēəm,

-ktēəm

: a genus of Old World coarse biennial herbs (family Compositae) distinguished by the bristly receptacle of the flower heads and by the hooked involucral bracts see burdock

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek arktion, a plant, probably from arktos bear

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!