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
Some prebiotic-rich food options include berries, asparagus, apples, garlic, onions, leeks, dandelion greens, chicory root, whole oats, and green bananas.
—
Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Apr. 2025
Today, he’s dropped off tender dandelion greens and a messy load of huckleberries.
—Scott Clark As Told To Betsy Andrews, Saveur, 3 Apr. 2025
Though there’s no research on the effects of dandelion coffee specifically, dandelion is contains antioxidants, such as chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and terpenes, all of which have cellular-protective effects.24
13.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Grains that are ready to take flight, the dandelion fuzz of carbohydrates.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dandelion
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Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Apr. 2025
Today, he’s dropped off tender dandelion greens and a messy load of huckleberries.
—Scott Clark As Told To Betsy Andrews, Saveur, 3 Apr. 2025
Though there’s no research on the effects of dandelion coffee specifically, dandelion is contains antioxidants, such as chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and terpenes, all of which have cellular-protective effects.24
13.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Grains that are ready to take flight, the dandelion fuzz of carbohydrates.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dandelion
Cite this Entry
“Dandelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandelion. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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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