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Nicotiana tabacum

Nicotiana tabacum

9.3
A tall South American plant with large leaves grown for cigarettes and cigars
  • noun
  • /ˌnɪkəˈteɪnə təˈbækəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nicotiana tabacum
  • The leaves of Nicotiana tabacum are harvested and processed to produce cigarettes and cigars.

Examples

  • Scientists have studied Nicotiana tabacum to understand how nicotine is synthesized in plants.

  • The Nicotiana tabacum plant thrives in warm climates.

  • Most commercial tobacco products are made from Nicotiana tabacum, a species native to South America.

  • Farmers grow Nicotiana tabacum for its valuable leaves.

  • Most commercial tobacco products are made from Nicotiana tabacum, a species native to South America.

  • The leaves of Nicotiana tabacum are harvested and processed to produce cigarettes and cigars.

  • Farmers grow Nicotiana tabacum for its valuable leaves.

Synonyms

tobacco plant
vsNicotiana tabacum
  • Specialized
1 3.4

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

is the exact species rather than a broader genus term
common tobacco
vsNicotiana tabacum
3.3

A tall South American plant grown for its large leaves used to make cigarettes and cigars

is the specific scientific name for this cultivated species

Surface Forms

Nicotiana tabacum singular
Nicotiana tabacums plural

Morphology

Nicotiana + tabacum

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name and functions as a proper noun rather than a compositional English phrase; a B1 learner who knows the label 'Nicotiana' as a genus and an undefined epithet 'tabacum' would not reliably infer the specific meaning 'tobacco plant'. The sense is lexicalized botanical knowledge (or requires knowing that 'tabacum' = tobacco), so it is not transparently derivable from the constituents for most learners.

Etymology

Nicotiana tabacum is named after Jean Nicot, a French man who brought tobacco seeds to Europe in the 1500s. The parts Nicotiana (for Nicot) and tabacum (meaning 'tobacco') make it easy to remember that this is the plant used to make 'tobacco' products.