man·drake (m n dr k )n. 1. a. A southern European plant (Mandragora officinarum) having greenish-yellow flowers and a branched root. This plant was once believed to have magical powers because its root resembles the human body. b. The root of this plant, which contains the poisonous alkaloid hyoscyamine. Also called mandragora. 2. See May apple. [Middle English, alteration (influenced by drake, dragon) of mandragora, from Old English, from Latin mandragor s, from Greek.] |
mandrake [ˈmændreɪk], mandragora [mænˈdrægərə]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a Eurasian solanaceous plant, Mandragora officinarum, with purplish flowers and a forked root. It was formerly thought to have magic powers and a narcotic was prepared from its root
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) another name for the May apple
[probably via Middle Dutch from Latin mandragoras (whence Old English mandragora), from Greek. The form mandrake was probably adopted through folk etymology, because of the allegedly human appearance of the root and because drake (dragon) suggested magical powers]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  mandrake - the root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a narcoticdevil's apples, Mandragora officinarum, mandrake - a plant of southern Europe and North Africa having purple flowers, yellow fruits and a forked root formerly thought to have magical powers root - (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground |
| 2. |  mandrake - a plant of southern Europe and North Africa having purple flowers, yellow fruits and a forked root formerly thought to have magical powersherb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests genus Mandragora, Mandragora - a genus of stemless herbs of the family Solanaceae mandrake, mandrake root - the root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a narcotic |
Translations
mandrake
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