safflower

noun

saf·​flow·​er ˈsa-ˌflau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce safflower (audio)
: a widely cultivated Old World composite herb (Carthamus tinctorius) with large usually orange or red flower heads and seeds rich in oil
also : a red dyestuff prepared from the flower heads

Examples of safflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These relaxing jasmine-rose bath bombs are formulated with nourishing skin ingredients, including jojoba seed oil, safflower seed oil, and hemp seed oil, for additional beauty benefits, too. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Dec. 2023 Another $10 mini included in Ulta’s sale is the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover, a lightweight balm for all skin types made with safflower seed oil, which is designed to leave the skin feeling soft. Buy Side Staff, wsj.com, 1 Nov. 2023 Each of these handcrafted eggs is hand-decorated with natural colours in greens and blues (made from safflower and spirulina) to represent the earth and sky. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 The best bets for cooking oil are likely from sunflower and safflower crops, which are generally GMO–free and not especially water-hungry. Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 4 Aug. 2023 The two oils—referred to as sun oils—are vegetable oils derived from the seeds of sunflower and safflower plants. Clarisa Diaz, Quartz, 3 Mar. 2022 Another standout product by the Beauty of Joseon line, this cream contains 2% niacinamide, 5% of ginseng, honey extract, safflower seed oil and corn milk, as well as three types of hyaluronic acid, that may moisturize and firm skin. Elizabeth Berry, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2023 The Humane Society recommends safflower seed for attracting cardinals, chickadees and titmice; nyjer thistle for goldfinches; and white proso millet for mourning doves and house finches. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 30 June 2023 And many of the fields that have flooded were planted with seasonal row crops such as tomatoes, cotton and safflower. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle French saffleur, from Old Italian saffiore, from Arabic ʽaṣfar, ʽuṣfur

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of safflower was circa 1660

Dictionary Entries Near safflower

Cite this Entry

“Safflower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/safflower. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

safflower

noun
saf·​flow·​er ˈsaf-ˌlau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce safflower (audio)
: a widely grown Old World herb related to the daisies that has large orange or red flower heads that are the source of a dye and seeds rich in edible oil

Medical Definition

safflower

noun
saf·​flow·​er ˈsaf-ˌlau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce safflower (audio)
1
: a widely grown Old World composite herb (Carthamus tinctorius) that has large orange or red flower heads from which a red dyestuff is prepared and seeds rich in oil
2
: a drug consisting of the dried florets of the safflower that has been used in medicine in place of saffron

called also carthamus

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