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Definition of dipsacus

dipsacus

/ˈdɪp.sə.kəs/
dip · sa · cus
Plural:dipsacuses
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dipsacus Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any tall biennial or perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Dipsacus (family Caprifoliaceae), commonly known as teasel, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, characterized by prickly stems, opposite leaves joined at the base to form rainwater-collecting cups, and dense, ovoid, spiny flower heads of small lavender, purple, or white tubular blossoms surrounded by stiff, upward-curving bracts.

Photo by George Chernilevsky / CC BY 4.0
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dipsacus

• Nearby Words

dippable
dipper
dippy
dipsacus
dipshit
dipstick
dire

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dipsacos, from Ancient Greek δίψακος (dípsakos), derived from δίψα (dípsa, "thirst"), in reference to the cup-like cavities formed by the bases of the opposite leaves around the stem, which collect and hold rainwater.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dipsacus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dipsacus
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