chamomile

cham·o·mile or cam·o·mile   (kām'ə-mīl', -mēl')    n.   An aromatic perennial herb (Chamaemelum nobile) in the composite family, native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, having feathery foliage and flower heads with white rays and yellow centers. A similar, related Eurasian annual plant (Matricaria recutita). The dried flower heads of either one of these plants, used to make an herbal tea and yielding an oil used in commercial flavorings and perfumery. [Middle English camomille, from Old French, from Late Latin chamomilla, alteration of Latin chamaemēlon, from Greek khamaimēlon : khamai, on the ground; see dhghem- in Indo-European roots + mēlon, apple.]

Main Entry: cham·o·mile
Variant: or cam·o·mile /'kam-&-"mIl, -"mEl/
Function: noun
1 a : acomposite herb (Chamaemelum nobile syn. Anthemis nobilis) of Europe and No. Africa having strong-scented foliage and flower heads that contain a bitter principle used as an antispasmodicor a diaphoretic b : any of several related composite plants (genera Anthemis and Matricaria); especially : a Eurasian herb of the genus Matricaria(M. recutita syn. M. chamomilla) naturalized in No. America and having foliage and flower heads that contain the bitter principle found in chamomile (C. nobile)
2 : the dried flower heads of either of two chamomiles (Chamaemelum nobile and Matricaria recutita) used as aromatic bitters