Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Asparagus
As-par′a-gus
(ăs-păr′ȧ-gŭs)
, Noun.
[L., fr. Gr.
ἀσπάραγος
, ἀσφάραγος
; cf. σπαργᾶν
to swell with sap or juice, and Zend çparegha
prong, sprout, Pers. asparag
, Lith. spurgas
sprout, Skr. sphurj
to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass
.] 1.
(Bot.)
A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order
Liliaceæ
, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus
is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis
, a species cultivated in gardens. 2.
The young and tender shoots of
Asparagus officinalis
, which form a valuable and well-known article of food. ☞ This word was formerly pronounced
sparrowgrass
; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. Asparagus beetle
(Zool.)
, a small beetle (
Crioceris asparagi
) injurious to asparagus.Webster 1828 Edition
Asparagus
ASPAR'AGUS
,Noun.
Asparagus, sperage, vulgarly, sparrow-grass; a genus of plants. That which is cultivated in gardens, has an upright herbaceous stalk, bristly leaves, and equal stipulas. The roots have a bitterish mucilaginous taste; and the stalk is, in some degree, aperient and deobstruent, but not very efficacious.
Definition 2024
Asparagus
Asparagus
See also: asparagus
Translingual
Proper noun
Asparagus m
- A taxonomic genus within the family Asparagaceae – asparaguses.
Hypernyms
- (genus): Plantae - kingdom; angiosperms, monocots - clades; Asparagales - order; Asparagaceae - family; Asparagoideae - subfamily
asparagus
asparagus
See also: Asparagus
English
Bundles of green and white asparagus
Noun
asparagus (plural asparagus or asparaguses)
- Any of various perennial plants of the genus Asparagus having leaflike stems, scalelike leaves, and small flowers.
- The young shoots of Asparagus officinalis eaten as a vegetable.
- A green colour, like that of an asparagus.
-
asparagus colour:
-
Synonyms
- sparrowgrass
- sparage, sparagus, sparagrass
Translations
asparagus plant
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asparagus shoots (food)
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Latin
Etymology
Also found in Medieval Latin. From Ancient Greek ἀσπάραγος (aspáragos).
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /asˈpa.ra.ɡus/, [asˈpa.ra.ɡʊs]
Noun
asparagus m (genitive asparagī); second declension
Inflection
Second declension.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | asparagus | asparagī |
| genitive | asparagī | asparagōrum |
| dative | asparagō | asparagīs |
| accusative | asparagum | asparagōs |
| ablative | asparagō | asparagīs |
| vocative | asparage | asparagī |
Descendants
References
- asparagus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- asparagus in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- Félix Gaffiot (1934), “asparagus”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.