tropaeolum

noun

tro·​pae·​o·​lum
-ləm
1
capitalized : a genus of tropical American diffuse or climbing pungent herbs constituting the family Tropaeolaceae and having lobed or dissected peltate leaves and showy variously colored spurred flowers succeeded by a fruit composed of three distinct rugose carpels see canarybird flower, nasturtium sense 2
2
plural -s : any plant or flower of the genus Tropaeolum

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, diminutive of Latin tropaeum trophy

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tropaeolum was in 1759

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Cite this Entry

“Tropaeolum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tropaeolum. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

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