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Definition of cynoglossum
cynoglossum
/ˌsaɪnoʊˈɡlɑːsəm/
cy · no · glos · sum
Plural:cynoglossums
cynoglossum Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any herbaceous flowering plant of the genus Cynoglossum in the borage family (Boraginaceae), commonly known as hound's-tongue or Chinese forget-me-not, characterized by rough, tongue-shaped leaves, prickly bur-like nutlets, and branched clusters of small, five-lobed blue, purple, or reddish-brown blossoms.
• Rhymes for cynoglossum
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin cynoglossum, from Ancient Greek kynoglosson, literally meaning 'dog's tongue' (from kyon, 'dog', and glossa, 'tongue'), in reference to the shape and rough texture of the plant's leaves.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cynoglossum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cynoglossum