spurge

noun

ˈspərj 

: any of a family (Euphorbiaceae) of widely distributed herbs, shrubs, and trees often with a bitter milky juice

especially : euphorbia

Examples of spurge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another class of plants to watch out for is the spurge family, which includes leafy spurge and spotted spurge. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 5 June 2024

On the other hand, none of the ragweed, black mustard, spotted spurge, arborvitae, corncockle, rye brome, American burnweed, or broadleaf plantain seeds sprouted. —Kate Golembiewski, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

The beans are actually seed pods from a shrub native to Mexico and are more closely related to spurges than legumes, despite being colloquially known as beans. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Feb. 2023

There are no spots, so this is Euphorbia prostrata, ground spurge. —oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French espurge, spurge, from espurger to clean out, purge, from Latin expurgare — more at expurgate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spurge

• Allegheny spurge
• Japanese spurge
• leafy spurge
• spurge laurel

Medical Definition

spurge

noun

ˈspərj 

: any of various mostly shrubby plants (family Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, and especially genus Euphorbia) that have a bitter milky juice and that include several which have been used medicinally see ipecac spurge