Illustration of dandelion
dandelion
noun
dan·de·li·on
ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən 
-dē-
: any of a genus (Taraxacum) of yellow-flowered composite herbs with milky sap
especially
: one (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed
Examples of dandelion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cheese, pine, mushrooms, habanero peppers, tulsi, and dandelion root are among the ingredients incorporated into the bars and bonbons here.
—
Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2024
Thistle, crown vetch and, to a lesser degree, dandelion and white clover are commonly visited by bees.
—Christina Grozinger, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for dandelion 
Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2024
Thistle, crown vetch and, to a lesser degree, dandelion and white clover are commonly visited by bees.
—Christina Grozinger, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for dandelion
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dandelion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Dandelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandelion. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dandelion
noun
dan·de·li·on
ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən
: any of a genus of yellow-flowered weedy plants related to the daisies
especially
: one with long deeply toothed stemless leaves sometimes grown as a potherb
Etymology
from early French dent de lion "dandelion," literally, "tooth of the lion"; dent derived from Latin dens "tooth" — related to dental
Word Origin
Sometimes plants are named for their resemblance, real or imagined, to animal shapes. The dandelion might not be a plant we would be quick to connect with a lion's teeth. And yet, in early French this common plant with its yellow flowers was called dent de lion, meaning literally "tooth of the lion." The dandelion leaves have deep notches along the edges. These make the leaves appear to have a row of sharp triangular teeth. In time the French name came to be spelled and pronounced as one word when it came into English, giving us dandelion today.
Medical Definition
dandelion
noun
dan·de·li·on
ˈdan-dᵊl-ˌī-ən
: any plant of the genus Taraxacum
especially
: an herb (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed
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