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Definition of ricinus

ricinus

/ˈrɪs.ɪ.nəs/
ric · i · nus
Plural:ricini
•
Adjective:ricinolic
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ricinus Lexical Profile

ricinus Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A monotypic genus of flowering plants in the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) native to tropical Africa and the Mediterranean, containing the castor oil plant, which is cultivated ornamentally for its large palmate leaves, terminal panicles of greenish-yellow flowers with prominent red stigmas, and spiny red or pink seed capsules.

• Nearby Words

ricebean
ricefish
richmond
ricinus
ricotta
ridgeback
ridged gourd

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Latin 'ricinus', meaning both a sheep tick and the castor-oil plant, so named because its mottled seeds closely resemble the appearance of an engorged tick.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ricinus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ricinus
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