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Glite Dictionary
cucurbitaceous

cucurbitaceous

9.9
About plants like pumpkins, cucumbers, squashes and melons
  • adjective
  • /ˌkjuːkərˈbeɪʃəs/
  • Specialized
: cucurbitácea
  • The pumpkin is a cucurbitaceous vegetable widely cultivated around the world.

Examples

  • She specializes in the study of cucurbitaceous crops such as melons and squashes.

  • The cucurbitaceous plants in my garden are thriving.

  • Many cucurbitaceous plants are grown for their edible fruits and seeds.

  • Are cucurbitaceous vegetables your favorite?

  • Many cucurbitaceous plants are grown for their edible fruits and seeds.

  • She specializes in the study of cucurbitaceous crops such as melons and squashes.

  • The cucurbitaceous plants in my garden are thriving.

Surface Forms

cucurbitaceous positive

Morphology

cucurbitaceous = cucurbit (semi-transparent) = cucurbit + aceous

The adjective is built regularly from the botanical noun 'cucurbit' plus the adjective-forming suffix '-aceous', but the base word is specialized and not widely known.

Etymology

Cucurbitaceous comes from the Latin cucurbita, meaning 'gourd', and the ending -aceous, meaning 'like' or 'related to'. So, cucurbitaceous describes plants 'like' gourds — the group that includes cucumbers, squashes, melons, and pumpkins.