Definition

Noun: 1. Castor-oil plant: A tropical plant (Ricinus communis) known for its large, palmate leaves and spiny seed capsules. Its seeds are the source of castor oil. 2. Ricinus: The scientific genus name for the castor-oil plant.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cây thầu dầu thường được trồng làm cảnh hoặc để lấy hạt. (The castor-oil plant is often grown for decoration or for its seeds.)
  • Hạt thầu dầu chứa một loại dầu có nhiều công dụng. (The ricinus seed contains an oil with many uses.)
  • Dầu được ép từ hạt cây thầu dầu gọi là dầu thầu dầu (castor oil). (The oil pressed from the seeds of the castor-oil plant is called castor oil.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thầu dầu" specifically refers to the plant itself. The product derived from it is always specified separately (e.g., - castor oil, - castor bean/seed).
• In botanical and scientific contexts, the Latin name "Ricinus communis" is used.

Variants and Related Words

• Cây thầu dầu: Castor bean plant, castor-oil plant (full term emphasizing it's a plant).
• Hạt thầu dầu: Castor bean, castor seed.
• Dầu thầu dầu: Castor oil (the product, not the plant).
• Họ Thầu dầu (Euphorbiaceae): The spurge family, a large family of flowering plants which includes the castor-oil plant, rubber trees, and poinsettias.

Synonyms

• Cây đu đủ tía: A less common vernacular name (literally: purple papaya tree), referring to the reddish-purple varieties of the plant.
• Ricinus: The direct Latin synonym used in scientific terminology.

Notes

• All parts of the thầu dầu plant, especially the seeds, are highly poisonous if ingested raw due to the presence of ricin. Only the processed oil is safe for external or specific medicinal use.
• It is an important industrial crop for castor oil, which is used in lubricants, biofuels, plastics, and traditional medicine.

noun

1. ricinus,castor-oil plant