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Glite Dictionary
🌿 A tobacco plant 🌸 A wildflower
Indian tobacco

Indian tobacco

7.9
A plant from South America and Mexico used for medicine
  • noun
  • /ˈɪndiən təˈbækoʊ/
translation icon : tabaco indio
  • The herbalist recommended Indian tobacco as a remedy for respiratory issues.

Examples

  • Scientists studied the effects of Indian tobacco in traditional medicine.

  • The Indian tobacco plant is well-known for its medicinal properties.

  • Indian tobacco grows naturally in several regions of South America.

  • I found some Indian tobacco at the herbal shop.

  • The herbalist recommended Indian tobacco for its effectiveness in treating respiratory ailments.

  • Scientists studied the traditional use of Indian tobacco in herbal medicine across South America.

  • Many people believe that Indian tobacco can help with various health issues due to its natural properties.

Synonyms

tobacco
vsIndian tobacco
  • Specialized
47 2.8

A plant with large leaves grown for smoking or chewing

is native and often used for herbal or medicinal purposes instead of commerce
tobacco plant
vsIndian tobacco
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A plant grown for its leaves that are dried and made into cigarettes or cigars

is native and used medicinally rather than mainly grown for products
wild tobacco
vsIndian tobacco
  • US
7.5

A wild plant from South America and Mexico with leaves used for smoking and not usually grown for sale

is used mainly for medicinal or herbal purposes rather than for cultivation
Nicotiana rustica
vsIndian tobacco
  • Specialized
9.9

A tobacco plant from South America and Mexico that has a lot of nicotine

is used for herbal or medicinal purposes rather than for high nicotine

Surface Forms

Indian tobacco singular
Indian tobaccos plural

Morphology

Indian + tobacco

The phrase transparently signals a kind of 'tobacco' qualified by 'Indian', so a B1 learner who knows the words will likely infer it is a tobacco-related plant associated with Indians (i.e., a particular variety). However, the precise botanical identity, medicinal sense, and the potential ambiguity of 'Indian' (India vs indigenous peoples) are not fully predictable from the parts, so the meaning is only partially derivable.

Etymology

Indian tobacco got its name when early Europeans saw people in South America and Mexico using a local plant like 'tobacco' for smoking and 'medicine', so they called it 'Indian tobacco'. That's why the name today means a native tobacco or herbal plant used in traditional 'medicine'.