turnsole
[ turn-sohl ]
/ ˈtɜrnˌsoʊl /
noun
any of several plants regarded as turning with the movement of the sun.
a European plant, Chrozophora tinctoria, of the spurge family, yielding a purple dye.
the purple dye prepared from this plant; litmus.
Origin of turnsole
1325–75; Middle English
turnesole < Middle French
tournesol the dye < Italian
tornasole the plant, literally, (it) turns (toward the) sun, on the model of Greek
hēliotrópion
heliotrope
Words nearby turnsole
turnout,
turnover,
turnover flap,
turnpike,
turnround,
turnsole,
turnspit,
turnstile,
turnstone,
turntable,
turntable ladder
Example sentences from the Web for turnsole
The lower part from a was filled with water tinged blue, or rather purple, with the juice of turnsole, or archil.
Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air |Joseph PriestleyA violet tint is given by the tinctures of turnsole and cochineal.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines |Andrew UreHe styles the colouring substance itself cutbear, persio, or turnsole; and distributes the lichens as follows:—1st.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines |Andrew Ure
British Dictionary definitions for turnsole
turnsole
/ (ˈtɜːnˌsəʊl) /
noun
any of various plants having flowers that are said to turn towards the sun
a euphorbiaceous plant, Croton tinctoria, of the Mediterranean region that yields a purple dye
the dye extracted from this plant
Word Origin for turnsole
C14: from Old French
tournesole, from Old Italian
tornasole, from
tornare to
turn +
sole sun, from Latin
sōl sun