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Definition of meadow rue
meadow rue
Plural:meadow rues
meadow rue Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
10
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various herbaceous perennial plants of the genus Thalictrum in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), native to temperate regions worldwide and characterized by finely divided, fern-like foliage and clusters of small, feathery, petal-less flowers.
Example
"The gardener planted tall meadow rue at the back of the border to add a delicate, airy texture to the shaded landscape."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for meadow rueWord Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, meadow rue is not closely related to the true medicinal herb rue (genus Ruta); it belongs instead to the buttercup family.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name arises from the plant's typical habitat in damp meadows and the visual resemblance of its delicate, lobed foliage to that of the unrelated common rue plant.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Meadow rue. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/meadow rue