Nasturtium

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nasturtium \Nas*tur"tium\, n. [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium,
     fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in
     allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent
     taste. See {Nose} of the face, and {Torture}.]
     1. (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or
        yellowish flowers, including several species of cress.


        They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a
        pungent biting taste.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus {Tropaeolum}, geraniaceous
        herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and
        spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress
        ({Tropaeolum majus}), the canary-bird flower ({Tropaeolum
        peregrinum}), and about thirty more species, all natives
        of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent
        flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for
        capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in
        salads.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nasturtium
       n 1: any tropical American plant of the genus Tropaeolum having
            pungent juice and long-spurred yellow to red flowers
       2: aquatic herbs [syn: {genus Nasturtium}]
       3: flowers and seeds and leaves all used as flavorings