any plant of the genus Coreopsis, of America and tropical Africa, cultivated for their yellow, brown, or yellow-and-red daisy-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)
Also called: calliopsis. Compare caryopsis
Word origin
C18: from New Latin, from Greek koris bedbug + -opsis; so called from the appearance of the seed
coreopsis in American English
(ˌkoʊriˈɑpsɪs; ˌ kɔriˈæpsɪs)
US
noun
any of a genus (Coreopsis) of plants of the composite family, having showy heads with yellow, crimson, or maroon ray flowers
Word origin
ModL < Gr koris, bug (< IE base *(s)ker-, to cut > shear) + opsis, appearance (see -opsis): so named from the shape of the fruit