Spurge definition

spûrj
Any of numerous herbs, shrubs, or trees of the genus Euphorbia, characteristically having milky juice and a cluster of small unisexual flowers that are surrounded by a cuplike structure composed of fused bracts.
noun
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Any of a genus (Euphorbia) of plants of the spurge family, with milky juice and minute, simplified flowers borne in cuplike inflorescences.
noun
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Designating a family (Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales) of dicotyledonous plants, usually with milky juice and diclinous flowers, including the poinsettia, cassava, and rubber tree.
adjective
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Any plant of the species of genus Euphorbia that grow in England and exude a bitter milky juice which was formerly used as a purgative.
noun
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Any plant of the genus Euphorbia.
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(intransitive) To emit foam; to froth; said of the emission of yeast from beer during fermentation.

verb
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
spurge
Plural:
spurges

Origin of spurge

  • Middle English from Old French espurge from espurgier to purge (from its use as a purgative) from Latin expūrgāre expurgate

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

  • From Old French espurge.

    From Wiktionary

  • Uncertain.

    From Wiktionary

Spurge Sentence Examples

  • But the most striking of the coast-belt flora are the tropical forms - the palm, mangrove, wild banana (Strelitzia augusta), tree-ferns, tree euphorbia, candelabra spurge and Caput medusae.

  • Laureola, spurge laurel, a small evergreen shrub with green flowers in the leaf axils towards the ends of the branches and ovoid black very poisonous berries, is found in England in copses and on hedge-banks in stiff soils.

  • Among plants remarkable in their appearance and structure may be noted the cactus-like Euphorbiae or spurge plants, the Stapelia or carrion flower, and the elephant's foot or Hottentots' bread, a plant of the same order as the yam.

  • On our August 2002 trip we found several new plants, including black nightshade, pink water speedwell, water plantain and dwarf spurge.

  • Look out for plants like sea holly, sea campion, sea spurge and grasses such as marram and sand couch grass.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near spurge in the Dictionary