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n. 1. a. Any of various annual plants of the genus Amaranthus having dense green or reddish clusters of tiny flowers and including weeds, ornamentals, and species cultivated for their edible leaves and seeds. Also called pigweed. b. The small edible seeds of several of these species. 2. An imaginary flower that never fades. 3. A deep reddish purple to dark or grayish, purplish red. 4. A dark red to purple azo dye. [New Latin Amaranthus, genus name, alteration of Latin amarantus, from Greek amarantos, unfading : a-, not; see A-1 + marainein, to wither; see mer- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) amaranthlove-lies-bleeding Amaranthus caudatus |
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