BLESSED THISTLE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does blessed thistle mean? 

• BLESSED THISTLE (noun)
  The noun BLESSED THISTLE has 2 senses:

1. tall Old World biennial thistle with large clasping white-blotched leaves and purple flower heads; naturalized in California and South America

2. annual of Mediterranean to Portugal having hairy stems and minutely spiny-toothed leaves and large heads of yellow flowers

  Familiarity information: BLESSED THISTLE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BLESSED THISTLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tall Old World biennial thistle with large clasping white-blotched leaves and purple flower heads; naturalized in California and South America

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

blessed thistle; holy thistle; lady's thistle; milk thistle; Our Lady's mild thistle; Silybum marianum

Hypernyms ("blessed thistle" is a kind of...):

herb; herbaceous plant (a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests)

Holonyms ("blessed thistle" is a member of...):

genus Silybum; Silybum (small genus of east African herbs)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Annual of Mediterranean to Portugal having hairy stems and minutely spiny-toothed leaves and large heads of yellow flowers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

blessed thistle; Cnicus benedictus; sweet sultan

Hypernyms ("blessed thistle" is a kind of...):

thistle (any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves)

Holonyms ("blessed thistle" is a member of...):

Cnicus; genus Cnicus (one species: blessed thistle)

 Context examples 

A substance found in certain plants, including blessed thistle.

(Cnicin, NCI Dictionary)

Blessed thistle may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.

(Blessed thistle, NCI Dictionary)

Also called blessed thistle, cardin, spotted thistle, and St. Benedict's thistle.

(Holy thistle, NCI Dictionary)

Also called blessed thistle, holy thistle, spotted thistle, and St. Benedict's thistle.

(Cardin, NCI Dictionary)