bloodroot

noun

blood·​root ˈbləd-ˌrüt How to pronounce bloodroot (audio)
-ˌru̇t
: a plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family having a red root and sap and bearing a solitary lobed leaf and white flower in early spring

called also sanguinaria

Examples of bloodroot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some of the first blooms to appear in Shenandoah National Park each spring are the bright purple hepatica and cheery white-and-yellow bloodroot flowers. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2023 Instudies, bloodroot has been shown to enhance the immune response of white blood cells. Jon Goodwin, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022 The first ingredient in this serum is Sanguinaria Canadensis, also known as 'bloodroot'. Jon Goodwin, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2022 If native ferns and wildflowers such as bloodroot, wild ginger, trillium, and foamflower thrive in your shade garden, conditions are probably good for ginseng. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2022 In Waukesha, Linder said her blended gardens lean cottage style but also include a variety of woodland natives including wild geranium, mayapple, bloodroot, wild ginger and both red and white trillium. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 Other spring species to look for include hepatica, trout lily, Gleason's trillium, bloodroot and spring beauty, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2022 The move cut off a valuable supply of river cane, bloodroot, sage and other plants, which can be difficult to find on the Cherokee Nation’s reservation in northeastern Oklahoma, on the border with Arkansas. Alyssa Lukpat, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022 Wild indigo, river cane, wild onion, hickory, bloodroot and sage are among the species that members of the tribe can now gather at Buffalo National River, which was established in 1972 as the country’s first national river. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bloodroot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bloodroot was in 1724

Dictionary Entries Near bloodroot

Cite this Entry

“Bloodroot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloodroot. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bloodroot

noun
blood·​root ˈbləd-ˌrüt How to pronounce bloodroot (audio)
-ˌru̇t
: a plant related to the poppies, having a red root and sap, and bearing a single leaf and a white flower in early spring

Medical Definition

bloodroot

noun
blood·​root -ˌrüt How to pronounce bloodroot (audio) -ˌru̇t How to pronounce bloodroot (audio)
: an herb (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family that has red sap and has a rootstock and roots used as an emetic and expectorant

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