aalii |
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noun
- A bushy garden shrub, w:Dodonaea viscosa, Dodonaea viscosa, of Hawaii, Australia, Africa, and tropical America, having sticky foliage.
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Aaron's rod |
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nounAaron's, "s rod
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(archaic) A rod with one serpent twined around it, as used by Aaron (differing from the caduceus of Mercury, which has two serpents).
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(botany) A plant with a tall flowering stem; especially the great mullein, or hag-taper, and the golden-rod.
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abaca |
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noun
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Tropical plant native to the Philippines grown for its textile and papermaking fibre (Musa textilis) also called Manila hemp.
- The fiber/fibre of this plant.
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abele |
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noun-
The white poplar (Populus alba).
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Quotations
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Six abeles i' the churchyard grow - Mrs. Browning
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abutilon |
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noun-
(Botany): A genus of plants in the family Malvaceae with many species, found in the torrid and temperate zones of both continents; -- called also "Indian mallow".
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acacia |
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noun
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(context, botany, countable) A shrub or tree of a species that belongs to the genus Acacia, is believed to belong to this genus, or once belonged to the genus.
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(context, pharmacy, uncountable) The inspissated juice of several species of Acacia.
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acanthaceous |
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adjective
- Armed with prickles, as a plant.
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(botany): Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the acanthus is the type.
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acanthus |
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noun (pl=acanthuses, pl2=acanthi)
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(botany) A genus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Scrophulariales) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; includes bear's breech.
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(architecture) An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus (Acanthus spinosus); — used in the capitals of the Corinthian and composite orders.
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aconite |
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noun
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(botany) The herb wolfsbane, or monkshood; any plant of the genus Aconitum, all the species of which are poisonous.
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An extract or tincture obtained from Aconitum napellus, used as a poison and medicinally.
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acorn |
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noun (plural: acorns)
- The fruit of the oak, being an oval nut growing in a woody cup or cupule.
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(nautical) A cone-shaped piece of wood on the point of the spindle above the vane, on the mast-head.
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(context, zoology) See acorn-shell.
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acorn squash |
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noun
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Any of several varieties of a plant, Cucurbita pepo, being a dark green winter squash having yellow to orange fresh
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Adam's apple |
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noun
- The lump in the throat, more noticeable in males than in females; the laryngeal prominence.
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adder's-tongue |
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nounadder"s tongue
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(botany) (a) A genus of ferns (Ophioglossum), whose seeds are produced on a spike resembling a serpent"s tongue. (b) The yellow dogtooth violet. Gray.
(webster)
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African violet |
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noun
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A perennial plant of the genus Saintpaulia with fine haired round leaf, leaves and velvety petals.
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agave |
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noun- A genus of plants of which the chief species is the maguey or century plant. Attaining maturity, it produces a gigantic flower stem.
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ageratum |
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noun- A genus of plants, one species of which (A. Mexicanum) has lavender-blue flowers in dense clusters.
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akee |
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noun
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A tropical evergreen tree (Blighia sapida) related to the lychee and longan.
- The fruit of the ackee, of which only the arils are edible, the remainder being poisonous.
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alfalfa |
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noun
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A plant, Medicago sativa, grown as a pasture crop
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allheal |
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noun
- any of many plants supposed to have broad healing powers
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allseed |
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noun
- Any of several unrelated plants that produce many seeds.
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almond |
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noun
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(countable) A type of tree nut.
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(countable) A small deciduous tree, Prunus dulcis, that produces almonds.
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(context, countable, uncountable) The colour of the kernel of an almond without its shell and thin seed coat, a creamy off-white colour.
adjective
- brownish, resembling the colour of an almond nut
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aloe |
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noun
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(in plural) The resin of the trees Aquilaria agallocha and Aquilaria malaccensis, known for their fragrant odour
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A plant of the genus Aloe.
- A strong, bitter drink made from the juice of such plants, used as a purgative.
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Althea |
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proper noun
- A female given name from Greek mythology
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amaranth |
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noun
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any of various trees, of the genus Amaranthus
- the seed of these plants, used as a cereal
- a red to purple azo dye used as a food colouring and in cosmetics
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amaranthine |
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noun
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(color) a dark reddish purple colour.
- <table><tr><td>amaranthine colour: </td><td bgcolor="
- 5b1e31" width="80"> </td></tr></table>
adjective
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(color) of a dark reddish purple colour.
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Andromeda |
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proper noun
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(greekmyth): Daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, king and queen of Eritrea, rescued from her sacrifice to a sea monster by Perseus who married her; mother of Perseus, ancient king of Persia.
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(constellation): An autumn constellation of the northern sky representing the "Chained Lady" Andromeda from Greek myth. The constellation lies between Pisces and Cassiopeia.
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(astronomy): The nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way; M31.
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Angelica |
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proper noun
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(given name, female), borne by a heroine in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso (1516).
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anil |
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noun
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(organic chemistry) Any imine in which the N-radical is a phenyl (or substituted phenyl) group.
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A shortening of anil tinctoria (aka. indigofera tinctura), a plant from which indigo dye can be extracted.
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anise |
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noun-
An umbelliferous plant (Pimpinella anisum) growing naturally in Egypt, and cultivated in Spain, Malta, etc., for its carminative and aromatic seeds, which are used as a spice. Has a licorice scent.
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annatto |
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noun
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(countable) A tropical American evergreen shrub, Bixa orellana; the lipstick tree.
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(uncountable) The seed of this tree used as a colouring or in Latin American cooking.
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(uncountable) An orange-red dye obtainied from this seed.
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APA |
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initialism
- Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
- American Psychological Association
- American Psychiatric Association
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Apple |
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proper noun
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(the Apple) A nickname for New York City (usually the Big Apple).
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(®) A multimedia corporation (w:Apple Corps, Apple Corps) and record company (w:Apple Records, Apple Records) founded by the w:Beatles, Beatles.
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(®) Name of the company, w:Apple Inc., Apple Inc. (formerly Apple Computer), that produces computers and other digital devices.
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(®) A computer produced by the company Apple Inc.
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(rare) a female given name.
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apple blossom |
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noun ((plural) apple blossoms)
- The flower of an apple tree that will eventually turn into an apple.
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apricot |
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noun (plural: apricots)
- A stone fruit.
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Fruit bearing tree of the species Prunus armeniaca.
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(colour) A pale yellowish-orange colour, like that of an apricot.
- <table><tr><td>apricot colour: </td><td bgcolor="
-
F1BA8D?" width="80"> </td></tr></table>
- (sniper slang) the junction of the brain and brain stem on a target, used as an aiming point to ensure a one-shot kill.
adjective ((compar): more apricot, (superl): most apricot)
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(colour) of a pale yellowish-orange colour, like that of an apricot.
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arborvitae |
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noun
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Any of severl North American or Asian conifers, of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis, grown for timber or ornament
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(anatomy) The white nerve tissue of the cerebellum that has a branching structure
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arbutus |
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noun
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any of several broad-leaved trees of the genus Arbutus.
- the trailing arbutus.
- arbute.
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arnica |
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noun
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Any of several plants, of the genus Arnica, related to the sunflowers.
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artichoke |
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noun
- an edible plant related to the thistle
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Ash |
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proper noun
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(given name, female, ) a female given name, short form of Ashley and Ashlee
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(given name, male, ) a male given name
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ashen |
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adjective
- Like or of ashes.
- pale, Pale, wan, pallid.
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ASP |
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initialism
- Active Server Pages
- Application Service Provider
- An extensible baton, used by police and security officers. From the name of the manufacturer: Amalgamated Security Products.
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asparagus |
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noun (pl=asparagus, pl2=asparaguses)
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Any of various perennial plants of the genus Asparagus having leaflike stems, scalelike leaves, and small flowers
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The young shoots of Asparagus officinalis eaten as a vegetable
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Aspen |
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proper noun
- A ski-resort town in Colorado.
- A small community in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.
- A gender-ambiguous English given name denominated for the aspen tree.
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asphodel |
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noun
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(botany) Flowering plants of the w:Asphodelaceae, Asphodelaceae family, especially w:Asphodelus, Asphodelus ramosus and w:Asphodelus albus, Asphodelus albus; the flowers of these plants.
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(mythology) The flower said to carpet Hades, and a favorite food of the dead.
- Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank,
- Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd
- He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch,
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Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel,
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And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap. -- John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 9.
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aspic |
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noun
- a dish in which ingredients are set into a gelatine, jelly-like substance made from a meat stock or consommé.
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assai |
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adverb
- In music, a tempo direction equivalent to "very".
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aster |
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noun
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Any of several plants of the genus Aster; one of its flowers.
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(biology) A star-shaped structure formed during the mitosis of a cell.
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avens |
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noun
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A plant of the genus Geum, esp. Geum urbanum, or herb bennet.
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avocado |
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noun (plural:avocados, or, rarely, the hypercorrectavocadi)
- The large, usually yellowish-green or black, pulpy fruit of the avocado tree.
- The avocado tree.
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(colour) A dull yellowish-green colour, the colour of the meat of an avocado.
- <table><tr><td>avocado colour: </td><td bgcolor="
- 6D6937" width="80"> </td></tr></table>
adjective
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(colour) Of a dull yellowish-green colour.
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awlwort |
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noun
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A plant, Subularia aquatica, with awl-shaped leaves.
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Azalea |
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proper noun
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(botany) A botanical name at the rank of genus. Circumscription of the genus will vary with taxonomic viewpoint.
:Currently Azalea is submerged in Rhododendron.
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azedarach |
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noun
- A handsome Asiatic tree (Melia azedarach), common in the southern United States; called also, Pride of India, Pride of China, and Bead tree.
- The bark of the roots of the azedarach, used as a cathartic and emetic.
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