artichoke

2 definitions found

artichoke - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Artichoke \Ar"ti*choke\, n. [It. articiocco, perh. corrupted fr.
     the same word as carciofo; cf. older spellings archiciocco,
     archicioffo, carciocco, and Sp. alcachofa, Pg. alcachofra;
     prob. fr. Ar. al-harshaf, al-kharsh[=u]f.] (Bot.)
     1. The Cynara scolymus, a plant somewhat resembling a
        thistle, with a dilated, imbricated, and prickly
        involucre. The head (to which the name is also applied) is
        composed of numerous oval scales, inclosing the florets,
        sitting on a broad receptacle, which, with the fleshy base
        of the scales, is much esteemed as an article of food.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. See Jerusalem artichoke.
        [1913 Webster]

artichoke - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  artichoke
      n 1: Mediterranean thistlelike plant widely cultivated for its
           large edible flower head [syn: artichoke, globe artichoke
           , artichoke plant, Cynara scolymus]
      2: a thistlelike flower head with edible fleshy leaves and heart
         [syn: artichoke, globe artichoke]