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Definition of dipsacus
dipsacus
/ˈdɪp.sə.kəs/
dip · sa · cus
Plural:dipsaci
dipsacus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A genus of tall, prickly biennial or perennial plants in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae), native to Eurasia and North Africa, featuring spiky cone-like flower heads; commonly known as teasels.
Example
"The botanist carefully examined the dried flower head of the dipsacus to study its rigid, spiny bracts."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dipsacusWord Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'dipsacus', derived from the Greek 'dipsakos' (teasel), which stems from 'dipsa' (thirst), a reference to the plant's cup-like leaf bases that catch 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 Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dipsacus