Saxifrage Definition

săksə-frĭj, -frāj
noun
Any of a genus (Saxifraga) of chiefly perennial plants of the saxifrage family, with small white, yellow, purple, or pinkish flowers, and with leaves massed usually at the base of the plant.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
  • rockfoil
  • breakstone
adjective
Designating a family (Saxifragaceae, order Rosales) of dicotyledonous plants found chiefly in the North Temperate and Arctic zones, including the currants and gooseberries.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Saxifrage

Noun

Singular:
saxifrage
Plural:
saxifrages

Origin of Saxifrage

  • Middle English from Old French from Late Latin (herba) saxifraga maidenhair fern feminine of Latin saxifragus rock-breaking (from its being found growing in rock crevices) saxum rock sek- in Indo-European roots frangere frag- to break bhreg- in Indo-European roots

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

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