a plant of the rosaceous genus Sanguisorba (or Poterium), such as S. minor (or P. sanguisorba) (salad burnet), which has purple-tinged green flowers and leaves that are sometimes used for salads
2. burnet rose
3. burnet saxifrage
4.
a moth of the genus Zygaena, having red-spotted dark green wings and antennae with enlarged tips: family Zygaenidae
Word origin
C14: from Old French burnete, variant of brunete dark brown (see brunette); so called from the colour of the flowers of some of the plants
Burnet in British English
(bəˈnɛt, ˈbɜːnɪt)
noun
1.
Gilbert. 1643–1715, Scottish bishop and historian, who played a prominent role in the Glorious Revolution (1688–89); author of The History of My Own Times (2 vols: 1724 and 1734)
2.
Sir (Frank) Macfarlane (məkˈfɑːlən). 1899–1985, Australian physician and virologist, who shared a Nobel prize for physiology or medicine in 1960 with P. B. Medawar for their work in immunology
3.
Thomas. 1635–1715, English theologian who tried to reconcile science and religion in his Sacred Theory of the Earth (1680–89)
burnet in American English
(ˈbɜrnɪt)
noun
any of a genus (Sanguisorba) of plants of the rose family, with white, red, purple, or greenish, apetalous flowers in thimble-shaped heads; esp., an herb (S. minor or more recently Poterium sanguisorba) with leaves that are used as in salads, seasonings, and herbal teas