Menispermum

noun

Men·​i·​sper·​mum

ˌmenəˈspərməm

1

: a genus (family Menispermaceae) of climbing herbs having numerous stamens and black drupaceous fruit see moonseed

2

plural -s : yellow parilla

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from meni- (from Greek mēnē moon) + -spermum (from Greek sperma seed)

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!