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knapweed

Pronunciation: /ˈnapwiːd/
Definition of knapweed

noun

[mass noun]
  • a tough-stemmed Eurasian plant that typically has purple thistle-like flower heads, occurring chiefly in grassland and on roadsides.
    • Genus Centaurea, family Compositae: several species, including the widespread common (or lesser) knapweed (C. nigra) (also called hardheads)

Origin:

late Middle English (originally as knopweed): from knop (because of its hard rounded involucre or ‘head’) + weed

knapweed in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of knapweed in the US English dictionary