Plumbago

3 definitions found

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

  Graphite \Graph"ite\, n. [Gr. gra`fein to write: cf. F.
     graphite. See {Graphic}.] (Min.)
     Native carbon in hexagonal crystals, also foliated or
     granular massive, of black color and metallic luster, and so
     soft as to leave a trace on paper. It is used for pencils
     (improperly called lead pencils), for crucibles, and as a


     lubricator, etc. Often called {plumbago} or {black lead}.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Graphite battery} (Elec.), a voltaic battery consisting of
        zinc and carbon in sulphuric acid, or other exciting
        liquid.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Plumbago \Plum*ba"go\, n. [L., from plumbum lead.]
     1. (Min.) Same as {Graphite}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants with pretty
        salver-shaped corollas, usually blue or violet; leadwort.
        [1913 Webster] Plumbean

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  plumbago
       n 1: used as a lubricant and as a moderator in nuclear reactors
            [syn: {graphite}, {black lead}]
       2: any plumbaginaceous plant of the genus Plumbago