mesembryanthemum

noun

me·​sem·​bry·​an·​the·​mum mə-ˌzem-brē-ˈan(t)-thə-məm How to pronounce mesembryanthemum (audio)
: any of a genus (Mesembryanthemum) of chiefly southern African fleshy-leaved herbs or subshrubs of the carpetweed family

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, irregular from Greek mesēmbria midday (from mes- + hēmera day) + anthemon flower, from anthos — more at anthology

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mesembryanthemum was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near mesembryanthemum

Cite this Entry

“Mesembryanthemum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesembryanthemum. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

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