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pokeweed

noun
poke·​weed | \ ˈpōk-ˌwēd How to pronounce pokeweed (audio) \

Definition of pokeweed

: a poisonous American perennial herb (Phytolacca americana of the family Phytolaccaceae, the pokeweed family) with racemose white flowers, dark purple juicy berries, and young shoots sometimes used as potherbs

Examples of pokeweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 And his recipes are all intriguing – biscuits and tea cakes to feasts showcasing pigs feet, cracklins, and pokeweed. 9. — Monitor Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, "10 best books of April: the Monitor's picks," 9 Apr. 2018 Songs have been written extolling pokeweed’s virtues. — Dave Taft, New York Times, "The Vegetarian’s Puffer Fish," 5 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pokeweed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pokeweed

1751, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for pokeweed

pokeweed

noun
poke·​weed | \ ˈpō-ˌkwēd How to pronounce pokeweed (audio) \

Medical Definition of pokeweed

: a poisonous American perennial herb (Phytolacca americana of the family Phytolaccaceae, the pokeweed family) that has stalks of white flowers, dark purple juicy berries, and a root from which is obtained a mitogen that has been used to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation

More from Merriam-Webster on pokeweed

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with pokeweed

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pokeweed

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