MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mother-in-law's tongue mean? 

• MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE (noun)
  The noun MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE has 2 senses:

1. stemless plant having narrow rigid leaves often cultivated as a houseplant

2. an evergreen plant with large showy dark green leaves; contains a poison that swells the tongue and throat hence the name

  Familiarity information: MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MOTHER-IN-LAW'S TONGUE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Stemless plant having narrow rigid leaves often cultivated as a houseplant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

mother-in-law's tongue; Sansevieria trifasciata; snake plant

Hypernyms ("mother-in-law's tongue" is a kind of...):

bowstring hemp; sansevieria (grown as a houseplant for its mottled fleshy sword-shaped leaves or as a source of fiber)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An evergreen plant with large showy dark green leaves; contains a poison that swells the tongue and throat hence the name

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

Dieffenbachia sequine; dumb cane; mother-in-law's tongue; mother-in-law plant

Hypernyms ("mother-in-law's tongue" is a kind of...):

aroid; arum (any plant of the family Araceae; have small flowers massed on a spadix surrounded by a large spathe)

Holonyms ("mother-in-law's tongue" is a member of...):

Dieffenbachia; genus Dieffenbachia (evergreen perennial herbs of tropical America with lush foliage and poisonous sap; often cultivated as houseplants)