ragwort

/'rægwə:t/

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Word: Ragwort

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Ragwort is a type of plant that has bright yellow flowers. It is commonly found in many areas, especially in Europe and America. While it can be pretty to look at, ragwort can also be harmful, especially to cattle, if they eat a lot of it because it is toxic.

Usage Instructions:

• General Use: You can use the word "ragwort" when talking about plants or gardening.
• Context: It is often used in discussions about farming, ecology, or gardening, especially when talking about plants that can be harmful to animals.

Example Sentence:

• "The farmer was worried about the ragwort growing in his fields because it could poison his cattle."

Advanced Usage:

• In ecological discussions, you might hear about ragwort as an invasive species that can disrupt local ecosystems.
• For example, "The spread of ragwort in the region has raised concerns among environmentalists about its impact on native plants."

Word Variants:

• Ragworts (plural): Refers to multiple plants of the same type.
• Scientific Name: The scientific name for some types of ragwort is Senecio.

Different Meanings:

• While "ragwort" primarily refers to the plant, in some contexts, it can be used metaphorically to describe something that is unwanted or troublesome, similar to how we might use "weed."

Synonyms:

• Weed: A general term for any unwanted plant.
• Golden ragwort: A specific type of ragwort with yellow flowers.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include the word "ragwort." However, you might encounter phrases like "pulling weeds," which refers to removing unwanted plants, potentially including ragwort.

Summary:

Ragwort is a yellow-flowered plant that can be pretty but is also dangerous for livestock if eaten in large amounts.

Academic

Noun

1. American ragwort with yellow flowers
2. widespread European weed having yellow daisylike flowers; sometimes an obnoxious weed and toxic to cattle if consumed in quantity

Synonyms

• butterweed
• Senecio glabellus
• tansy ragwort
• ragweed
• benweed
• Senecio jacobaea