| Noun | 1. | whitlowwort - any of various low-growing tufted plants of the genus Paronychia having tiny greenish flowers and usually whorled leaves; widespread throughout warm regions of both Old and New Worlds; formerly thought to cure whitlows (suppurative infections around a fingernail) genus Paronychia, Paronychia - low-growing annual or perennial herbs or woody plants; whitlowworts ground cover, groundcover - low-growing plants planted in deep shade or on a steep slope where turf is difficult to grow |