Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stinging herb of tropical America: "devil nettle" refers to a type of herbaceous plant found in tropical regions of the Americas, known for its stinging hairs or properties that can cause skin irritation upon contact.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Be careful when hiking in that area; the devil nettle can cause a painful rash.
  • The local guide pointed out a patch of devil nettle growing near the trail.

Advanced Usage

• As a subject of botanical study: The term is used in botanical contexts to classify and describe this specific plant species.
  • The research paper focused on the defensive mechanisms of the devil nettle.

Variants and Related Words

• Stinging nettle: A more general common name for plants in the genus that have stinging hairs, though "devil nettle" may refer to a specific tropical species.
• Cnidoscolus urens: A potential scientific name for a plant commonly called "devil nettle" or "bull nettle," known for its stinging hairs.

Synonyms

• Bull nettle: Another common name for a similar stinging plant in tropical America.
• Tread-softly: A colloquial name hinting at the need for caution around the plant.

Related Phrases

• "To brush against a devil nettle": To accidentally make contact with the plant, often resulting in a stinging sensation.
  • He regretted not wearing long pants after he brushed against a devil nettle.

Notes

• The term "devil nettle" is a compound noun. The primary definition and examples above focus on the term as a single lexical unit referring to the plant. It is not typically broken down into separate meanings for "devil" and "nettle" in this context.

Noun

1. a stinging herb of tropical America