croton

[ kroht-n ]

noun
  1. any of numerous chiefly tropical plants constituting the genus Croton, of the spurge family, several species of which, as C. tiglium, have important medicinal properties.

  2. (among florists) any plant of the related genus Codiaeum (or Phyllaurea) cultivated for its ornamental foliage.

Origin of croton

1
1745–55; <New Latin <Greek krotṓn a tick, also the castor-oil plant, which has berries likened to ticks

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British Dictionary definitions for croton

croton

/ (ˈkrəʊtən) /


noun
  1. any shrub or tree of the chiefly tropical euphorbiaceous genus Croton, esp C. tiglium, the seeds of which yield croton oil

  2. any of various tropical plants of the related genus Codiaeum, esp C. variegatum pictum, a house plant with variegated foliage

Origin of croton

1
C18: from New Latin, from Greek krotōn tick, castor-oil plant (whose berries resemble ticks)

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