Definition

1. Noun:
   • Any plant of the genus Piqueria or the closely related genus Stevia: A plant belonging to either of these two related botanical genera.
   • Any plant of the genus Stevia or the closely related genus Piqueria having glutinous foliage and white or purplish flowers; Central and South America: A more specific definition describing plants from these genera, characterized by sticky leaves and flowers that are white or purplish in color, native to Central and South America.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The garden features several species of stevia known for their sticky leaves.
  • Farmers in Paraguay cultivate stevia for its natural sweetening properties.
  • Botanists are studying the classification of this stevia within the genus.

Advanced Usage

• While the core definition refers to the botanical plant, the term "stevia" is now most commonly used to refer to the sweetener extracted from the leaves of , a specific species within the genus.
  • Many people use stevia as a zero-calorie sugar substitute in their coffee.

Variants and Related Words

• Stevioside (n): A specific glycoside compound found in stevia leaves that is responsible for its intense sweetness.
• Stevia rebaudiana (n): The most commercially significant species of stevia, from which the popular sweetener is derived.

Synonyms

• Sweetleaf: A common name for plants in the genus, particularly .
• Sugarleaf: Another informal name referencing the plant's sweet leaves.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary dictionary definition focuses on the botanical entity (the plant itself).
• In contemporary, everyday usage, "stevia" almost exclusively refers to the refined sweetener product made from the plant's leaves, which is a metonymic shift in meaning.

Noun

1. any plant of the genus Piqueria or the closely related genus Stevia
2. any plant of the genus Stevia or the closely related genus Piqueria having glutinous foliage and white or purplish flowers; Central and South America