physic nut

noun

small tropical American tree yielding purple dye and a tanning extract and bearing physic nuts containing a purgative oil that is poisonous in large quantities

• Syn: ↑Jatropha curcus

• Hypernyms: ↑angiospermous tree, ↑flowering tree

• Member Holonyms: ↑Jatropha, ↑genus Jatropha

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noun

1. : the seed of a small tropical American tree (Jatropha curcas) containing a strongly purgative oil that is poisonous if taken in large quantities

2. : the tree that bears the physic nut and yields a purple dye and a tanning extract

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1. an ornamental, tropical American tree, Jatropha curcas, of the spurge family, having ivylike leaves, small, yellow or greenish-yellow flowers, and olive-shaped fruit yielding a purgative, poisonous oil.

2. the fruit itself. Also called Barbados nut, purging nut.

[1775-85]

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physic nut noun

The purgative seed of the tropical American tree Jatropha curcas, of the spurge family

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Main Entry: ↑physic