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Definition of lupinus
lupinus
/luːˈpaɪ.nəs/
Lu · pi · nus
Plural:lupinuses
•Adjective:lupine
lupinus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large genus of herbaceous plants and shrubs in the legume family (Fabaceae), commonly known as lupines or lupins, native primarily to North and South America and the Mediterranean region, prized for their palmately compound leaves and tall, showy terminal spikes of pea-like flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, yellow, or white.
Synonyms
View all synonyms for lupinus• Rhymes for lupinus
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lupīnus ('wolfish, pertaining to a wolf'), from lupus ('wolf'), referencing the ancient misconception that the plant 'ravaged' or depleted the fertility of the soil in which it grew (whereas in reality its root nodules enrich poor soil by fixing nitrogen).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lupinus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lupinus