safflower
safflower Lexical Profile
safflower Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A thistle-like annual plant (Carthamus tinctorius) of the daisy family Asteraceae, native to arid regions of the Middle East and widely cultivated for its globular flower heads of vibrant yellow, orange, or red tubular blossoms and its oil-rich seeds.
"Fields of blooming safflower painted the dry summer hills in brilliant shades of orange and gold."
The dried red or orange florets of the safflower plant, historically used to make red and yellow textile dyes and in cooking as an inexpensive substitute for saffron.
"The artisan boiled dried safflower to create a warm crimson dye for the silk fabric."
Word Nuance & Usage
Safflower is often confused with saffron because dried safflower petals are sometimes sold as a cheaper culinary substitute (known as "bastard saffron"), though true saffron comes from the crocus flower and has a much stronger flavor and aroma.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Dutch saffloer, via Old French safleur and Italian saffiore, ultimately from Arabic usfur, altered by folk etymology in European languages to resemble both saffron and flower.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.