datura

noun

da·​tu·​ra də-ˈt(y)u̇r-ə 

: any of a genus (Datura) of widely distributed strong-scented herbs, shrubs, or trees of the nightshade family including some used as sources of medicinal alkaloids (such as stramonium) or in folk rites or illicitly for their poisonous, narcotic, or hallucinogenic properties compare jimsonweed

Examples of datura in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cuttings of datura and succulents culled from holidays in Greece or Malta or Portugal have taken to the arid Sardinian soil. —Alexandra Marshall, WSJ, 29 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Hindi dhatūrā jimsonweed (or a cognate descendant of Sanskrit dhattūraḥ)

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

datura

noun

da·​tu·​ra də-ˈt(y)u̇r-ə 

1

capitalized : a genus of widely distributed strong-scented herbs, shrubs, or trees of the family Solanaceae including some used as sources of medicinal alkaloids (as stramonium from jimsonweed) or in folk rites or illicitly for their poisonous, narcotic, or hallucinogenic properties

2

: any plant or flower of the genus Datura