safflower Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun thistlelike Eurasian plant widely grown for its red or orange flower heads and seeds that yield a valuable oil
    false saffron; Carthamus tinctorius.

WordNet


Saf"flow`er noun
Etymology
F. safeur, safior, for safran, influenced by fleur flower. See Saffron, and Flower.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) An annual composite plant (Carthamus tinctorius), the flowers of which are used as a dyestuff and in making rouge; bastard, or false, saffron.
  2. The died flowers of the Carthamus tinctorius.
  3. A dyestuff from these flowers. See Safranin (b).

Webster 1913