pyrethrum
[ pahy-ree-thruh m, -reth-ruh m ]
/ paɪˈri θrəm, -ˈrɛθ rəm /
noun
any of several chrysanthemums, as Chrysanthemum coccineum, having finely divided leaves and showy red, pink, lilac, or white flowers, cultivated as an ornamental.
any of several chrysanthemums, as C. cinerariifolium, or C. coccineum, cultivated as a source of insecticides.
Pharmacology.
the dried flower heads of these plants, used chiefly as an insecticide and sometimes in medicine for certain skin disorders.
Origin of pyrethrum
1555–65; < Latin: pellitory < Greek
pýrethron, akin to
pyretós fever; compare
pellitory
Words nearby pyrethrum
pyrenees,
pyrenocarp,
pyrenoid,
pyrethrin,
pyrethroid,
pyrethrum,
pyretic,
pyreto-,
pyretogenesis,
pyretogenic,
pyretotherapy
Example sentences from the Web for pyrethrum
British Dictionary definitions for pyrethrum
pyrethrum
/ (paɪˈriːθrəm) /
noun
any of several cultivated Eurasian chrysanthemums, such as Chrysanthemum coccineum and C. roseum, with white, pink, red, or purple flowers
any insecticide prepared from the dried flowers of any of these plants, esp C. roseum
Word Origin for pyrethrum
C16: via Latin from Greek
purethron feverfew, probably from
puretos fever; see
pyretic