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Definition of catananche

catananche

/ˌkæt.əˈnæŋ.ki/
cat · a · nan · che
Plural:catananches
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catananche Lexical Profile

catananche Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A flowering plant of the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to the Mediterranean region, characterized by its dry, papery, and predominantly blue or white flower heads. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and is commonly known as Cupid's dart.

Example

"The horticulturist decided to plant a border of blue catananche to add a splash of late summer color to the drought-tolerant garden."

• Rhymes for catananche

• Nearby Words

cat-eyed snake
catalpa
catalytic converter
catananche
catania
catapult
cataract

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'Catananche', derived from the Greek 'katanankē' (meaning 'strong compulsion' or 'necessity'), originating from 'kata-' (down, intensive) and 'anankē' (force). The plant was historically used by ancient Greek women in love potions, which gave rise to its common English name, Cupid's dart.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Catananche. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/catananche
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