knapweed

knap·weed

K0086400 (năp′wēd′)n. Any of various weedy thistlelike plants in the composite family having flowers grouped in a head with a spiny involucre, especially several species of the genus Centaurea and the Eurasian species Acroptilon repens.

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[Middle English knopwed : knop, knob; see knop + wed, weed; see weed¹.]

knapweed

(ˈnæpˌwiːd) n (Plants) any of several plants of the genus Centaurea, having purplish thistle-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites). See also centaury², hardheads[C15 knopwed; see knop, weed¹]

knap•weed

(ˈnæpˌwid)

n. any composite plant of the genus Centaurea, esp. the weedy C. nigra, having rose-purple flowers set on a dark-colored, knoblike bract. [1400–50; late Middle English knopwed=knoppe a small rounded protuberance + weed¹]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

knapweed - any of various plants of the genus Centaurea having purple thistlelike flowersslender knapweed - a variety of knapweedJersey knapweed - a variety of knapweedcentaury - any plant of the genus Centaureablack knapweed, Centaurea nigra, hardheads, lesser knapweed - a weedy perennial with tough wiry stems and purple flowers; native to Europe but widely naturalizedCentaurea scabiosa, great knapweed, greater knapweed - tall European perennial having purple flower heads

Translations

centaurée