cro·ton \ˈkrōtən\noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek krotōn tick, castor-oil plant 1.capitalized: a genus of herbs and shrubs of the spurge family with stellate-pubescent foliage and small dioecious flowers — see cascarilla, croton oil 2.-s a.: a plant of the genus Croton b.: a plant of the related genus Codiaeum (especially C. variegatum)