Gentian definition
Any of numerous plants of the family Gentianaceae and especially the genus Gentiana, characteristically having opposite leaves and showy, often blue flowers.
noun
The dried rhizome and roots of a yellow-flowered European gentian, G. lutea, sometimes used as a tonic.
noun
Designating a family (Gentianaceae, order Gentianales) of dicotyledonous plants, including the fringed gentians and the closed gentians.
adjective
Any of a large genus (Gentiana) of plants of the gentian family, with blue, white, red, or yellow flowers.
noun
The bitter root of the yellow gentian (G. lutea), used as a gastrointestinal tonic.
noun
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Any of numerous plants of the family Gentianaceae and especially the genus Gentiana, characteristically having opposite leaves and showy, often blue flowers.
noun
The dried rhizome and roots of a yellow-flowered European gentian, G. lutea, sometimes used as a tonic.
noun
Any of various herbs of the family Gentianaceae found in temperate and mountainous regions with violet or blue flowers.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
gentian
Plural:
gentiansOrigin of gentian
- Middle English gencian from Old French genciane from Latin gentiāna perhaps after Gentius , second-century bc king of Illyria
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition