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purslane definition

purs·lane (pʉrs′lin, -lān′)

noun

any of various prostrate weeds (genus Portulaca) of the purslane family, with pink, fleshy stems and small, yellow, short-lived flowers; esp., an annual (P. oleracea) sometimes used as a potherb and in salads

Etymology: ME purcelane < MFr porcelaine < LL porcilaca, purslane, altered < L portulaca: see portulaca

adjective

designating a family (Portulacaceae, order Caryophyllales) of dicotyledonous plants, including claytonia and portulaca

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

purslane Usage Examples

Noun used with modifier

  • sea: Out on the salt marshes you might find sea purslane, whose oval, fleshy leaves can be added to salads or stir-fried.
purslane usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"purslane." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/purslane>

APA Style

purslane. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/purslane

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