Cruciferous definition | Dictionary.com

cru⋅cif⋅er⋅ous

[kroo-sif-er-uh

–adjective

1.	bearing a cross.

2.	Botany. belonging to the Cruciferae, the mustard family of plants.

Compare mustard family.

Origin:
1650–60; < LL crucifer crucifer; see -ous

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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cru·ci·fer (krōō'sə-fər) Pronunciation Key
n.

One who bears a cross in a religious procession.
Botany Any of various plants in the mustard family (Cruciferae or Brassicaceae), which includes the alyssum, candytuft, cabbage, radish, broccoli, and many weeds.

[Late Latin : Latin crux, cruc-, cross + Latin -fer, -fer.]
cru·cif'er·ous (-sĭf'ər-əs) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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cruciferous
adjective
of or relating to or belonging to the plant family Cruciferae

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Cruciferous

Cru*cif"er*ous\ (kr?-s?f"?r-?s), a. [L. crux, crucis, cross + -ferous: cf. F. crucif?re.]

1. Bearing a cross.

2. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants which have four petals arranged like the arms of a cross, as the mustard, radish, turnip, etc.

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