noun · countable / uncountable · rare

centaury

centaury · centauries

Any of the flowering plants in or formerly in the genus CentauriumAny of the flowering plants in or formerly in the genus Centaurium.: Centaurium, sensu stricto

UK/ˈsɛntɔːɹɪ/US/ˈsɛntɔɹi/

Meaning

7 senses

Any of the flowering plants in or formerly in the genus Centaurium.
(countable, uncountable)Centaurium, sensu stricto
any of various plants of the genus Centaurium
(countable, uncountable)Gyrandra, a genus in Gentianaceae, formerly included in Centaurium, with species commonly called centaury
(countable, uncountable)Schenkia, a genus in Gentianaceae, formerly included in Centaurium, with species commonly called centaury
(countable, uncountable)Zeltnera, a New World genus in Gentianaceae, formerly included in Centaurium, with species commonly called centaury
Any of diverse other plants:
(countable, uncountable)Centaurea, a genus in the Asteraceae containing species sometimes called centaury
any plant of the genus Centaurea
(countable, uncountable)Cheirolophus crassifolius, a species in the Asteraceae commonly known as Maltese centaury
(countable, uncountable)Sabatia, a New World genus in the Gentianaceae containing species sometimes called centaury

Origin

From Middle English centaure, from Old English centaurie, from Medieval Latin centaurēa, c

From Middle English centaure, from Old English centaurie, from Medieval Latin centaurēa, centauria, from Latin centaurēum, centaurion, from Ancient Greek κενταύρειον (kentaúreion, “several plants related to Centaurea”), from κένταυρος (kéntauros, “centaur”) (due to the mythological discovery of its medicinal properties by Chiron the Centaur). Doublet of centaurea.

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