pyrethrum
pyrethrum Lexical Profile
pyrethrum Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of several Eurasian perennial plants formerly classified in the genus Chrysanthemum (now Tanacetum, especially Tanacetum coccineum and Tanacetum cinerariifolium), cultivated as garden flowers for their finely divided aromatic foliage and showy, daisy-like blossoms with white, pink, or crimson ray florets surrounding a yellow central disk.
"She planted rows of pink and white pyrethrums along the sunny border of the cottage garden."
A natural insecticide prepared from the dried and powdered flower heads of certain pyrethrum plants (especially Tanacetum cinerariifolium), containing active pyrethrin compounds that rapidly paralyze insects.
"The organic farmer sprayed a dilute solution of pyrethrum over the vegetable crops to control the aphid infestation."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Latin from Ancient Greek 'pyrethron', meaning 'feverfew', derived from 'pyr' (fire) in reference to the fiery, pungent taste of the root of the related plant Anacyclus pyrethrum.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.