centaurea

noun

cen·tau·rea sen-ˈtȯr-ē-ə

: any of a large genus (Centaurea) of composite herbs (such as bachelor's button) including several cultivated for their showy heads of tubular florets

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Globe artichokes tower on six-foot-tall spikes topped by lapis blue centaurea-like flowers. —

New York Times, 24 Sep. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'centaurea.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Medieval Latin

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of centaurea was in 1806

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Centaurea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/centaurea. Accessed 21 Mar. 2023.

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