n. 1. Any of various perennial plants of the genus Taraxacum of the composite family, having many-rayed yellow flower heads and deeply notched basal leaves, especially T. officinale, native to Eurasia and naturalized as a weed in North America, having edible leaves and flower heads that can be used to make wine. 2. A brilliant to vivid yellow. [Middle English dent-de-lioun, from Old French dentdelion, from Medieval Latin dēns leōnis, lion's tooth (from its sharply indented leaves) : Latin dēns, dent-, tooth; see dent- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Latin leōnis, genitive of leō, lion; see LION.] (click for a larger image) dandelioncommon dandelion Taraxacum officinale |
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