dioscorea

noun

di·​os·​co·​rea

ˌdīəˈskōrēə

1

capitalized : a genus of mostly tropical twining herbs (family Dioscoreaceae) including the yams and having net-veined leaves and small dioecious flowers

2

plural -s : the dried rhizome of a wild yam (Dioscorea paniculata) formerly used in hepatic disorders and rheumatism

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, irregular from Pedanius Dioscorides, 1st century a.d. Greek physician

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