a thistle-like Eurasian annual plant, Carthamus tinctorius, having large heads of orange-yellow flowers and yielding a dye and an oil used in paints, medicines, etc: family Asteraceae (composites)
2.
a red dye used for cotton and for colouring foods and cosmetics, or a drug obtained from the florets of this plant
Also called: false saffron
Word origin
C16: via Dutch saffloer or German safflor from Old French saffleur, from Early Italian saffiore, of uncertain origin. Influenced by saffron, flower
safflower in American English
(ˈsæfˌlaʊər)
noun
1.
a thistlelike, annual plant (Carthamus tinctorius) of the composite family, with large, orange flower heads and seeds that yield a drying oil used in paints, foods, medicine, etc.
2.
a dyestuff or drug prepared from its florets
Word origin
altered (< saffron & flower) < Du or MFr: Du saffloer < MFr saffleur < It saffiore < Ar aṣfar, yellow
Examples of 'safflower' in a sentence
safflower
`I'll teach you to make dyes of local stuff, safflower and indigo, walnut