Berberidaceae

plural noun

Ber·​ber·​i·​da·​ce·​ae

ˌbər-bə-rə-ˈdā-sē-ˌē,

bər-ˌber-

: a family of shrubs or herbs (order Ranales) having the sepals and petals imbricated in several series and the fruit either a berry or a capsule

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Berberid-, Berberis, type genus + -aceae

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!