castor bean

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Word: Castor Bean

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A castor bean is the seed of the castor-oil plant, which is a plant that can be found in many parts of the world. These seeds are known to be toxic, meaning they can be harmful if eaten. However, they are also the source of castor oil, which is a type of oil used in many products.

Usage Instructions:

• When using the term "castor bean," you might discuss gardening, plants, or health topics. Be cautious, as it refers to a toxic seed.
• It is important to note that while the oil extracted from castor beans is safe to use, the beans themselves should not be consumed.

Example Sentence:

• "The gardener planted castor beans, but he warned the children to stay away from the seeds because they are poisonous."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might encounter the castor bean in topics related to botany, toxicology, or herbal medicine.

Word Variants:

• Castor Oil: This is the oil extracted from castor beans, often used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.
• Castor-Oil Plant: The plant that produces the castor beans.

Different Meanings:

• The term "castor" can refer to other things too, such as a type of beaver or a person who helps with church services. However, in this context, it specifically refers to the plant seed.

Synonyms:

• There aren't direct synonyms for "castor bean," but related terms include "toxic seed" or simply "seed" when referring to the plant.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically associated with "castor bean."

Summary:

The castor bean is a toxic seed from the castor-oil plant, known for its harmful effects if ingested, but it is also valuable as the source of castor oil.

Academic

Noun

1. the toxic seed of the castor-oil plant; source of castor oil