Loosestrife definition

lo͝osstrīf

Any of various plants of the genus Lythrum, having spikes of purple or white flowers, especially the purple loosestrife.

noun

Any of various perennial plants of the genus Lysimachia, having usually yellow flowers.

noun

Any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family, with leafy stems and loose spikes of white, rose, or yellow flowers.

noun

Any of a genus (Lythrum) of plants of the loosestrife family, esp. purple loosestrife (L. salicaria) with spikes of purple flowers.

noun

Designating a family (Lythraceae, order Myrtales) of chiefly tropical dicotyledonous plants, including henna.

adjective

Any of certain flowering plants of the genera Lythrum and Lysimachia, which are not closely related.

noun

Other Word Forms

Singular:

loosestrife

Plural:

loosestrifes

Mistranslation of Latin lȳsimachīa (as if from Greek lusis loosening) (Greek makhē battle) from Greek lūsimakheios perhaps after Lūsimakhos , Lysimachos, Greek physician of the fifth or fourth century bc

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition