Definition

Noun 1. A European annual herb (Borago officinalis): A plant characterized by its hairy leaves and stems, and bright blue, star-shaped flowers. It is traditionally used in herbal medicine and its leaves are consumed as food, either raw in salads or cooked like spinach.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The garden featured a patch of vibrant Borago officinalis, its blue flowers attracting many bees.
  • For the salad, she picked young leaves of Borago officinalis to add a cucumber-like flavor.
  • Historically, Borago officinalis was cultivated in monastery gardens for its purported medicinal properties.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical and horticultural contexts: The term is used precisely to refer to the specific species, distinguishing it from other plants. It is often seen in scientific writing, seed catalogs, and formal gardening guides.
  • The study focused on the oil extracted from the seeds of Borago officinalis.

Variants and Related Words

• Borage: The common name for . This is the term most frequently used in everyday cooking and gardening.
  • I'm growing borage next to my tomatoes.
• Starflower: Another common name, referring to the shape of its blue flowers.
  • Starflower oil is a supplement derived from borage seeds.

Synonyms

• Borage
• Starflower
• Bee bread (a less common name, as the plant is attractive to bees)

Related Phrases and Idioms

(This term is a specific botanical name and does not commonly appear in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.)

Noun

1. hairy blue-flowered European annual herb long used in herbal medicine and eaten raw as salad greens or cooked like spinach