Definitions for valerianvəˈlɪər i ən
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
va•le•ri•anvəˈlɪər i ən(n.)
any plant of the genus Valeriana, as the common valerian V. officinalis, having white, lavender, or pink flowers and a root that is used medicinally.
Category: Plants
a drug consisting of or made from the root, formerly used as a nerve sedative and antispasmodic.
Category: Pharmacology
Origin of valerian:
1350–1400; ME valirian < ML valeriāna
Va•le•ri•anvəˈlɪər i ən(n.)
(Publius Licinius Valerianus), died a .d . c260, Roman emperor 253–60.
Category: Ancient History, Biography
Princeton's WordNet
valerian(noun)
a plant of the genus Valeriana having lobed or dissected leaves and cymose white or pink flowers
Wiktionary
valerian(Noun)
A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers.
valerian(Noun)
More generally, any plant of the genus Valeriana.
valerian(Noun)
The root of Valeriana officinalis, used in herbal medicine.
Valerian(ProperNoun)
the Roman emperor, Publius Licinius Valerianus
Origin: From valeriane or mediaeval valeriana, from the personal name Valerius.
Webster Dictionary
Valerian(noun)
any plant of the genus Valeriana. The root of the officinal valerian (V. officinalis) has a strong smell, and is much used in medicine as an antispasmodic
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Valerian
A plant genus of the family VALERIANACEAE, order Dipsacales, subclass Asteridae, class Magnoliopsida. It is best known for the sedative use and valepotriate content of the roots. It is sometimes called Garden Heliotrope but is unrelated to true Heliotrope (HELIOTROPIUM).
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