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Glite Dictionary
Plectranthus amboinicus

Plectranthus amboinicus

9.9
A fragrant herb with thick leaves grown for cooking and traditional medicine
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Plectranthus amboinicus
  • Many households grow Plectranthus amboinicus for its fragrant leaves, which are used in traditional remedies.

Examples

  • The chef added fresh Plectranthus amboinicus to the soup for a unique flavor.

  • Plectranthus amboinicus thrives in warm climates and is often grown on windowsills.

  • I love using Plectranthus amboinicus in my cooking.

  • Have you ever tried Plectranthus amboinicus in your dishes?

  • Many households grow Plectranthus amboinicus for its fragrant leaves, which are used in traditional remedies.

  • The chef added fresh Plectranthus amboinicus to the soup for a unique flavor.

  • Plectranthus amboinicus thrives in warm climates and is often grown on windowsills.

Synonyms

Coleus amboinicus
vsPlectranthus amboinicus
  • Specialized
9.9

A small plant with thick, strong-smelling leaves used in cooking and medicine

is native mainly to southern and eastern Africa rather than India or Sri Lanka
Coleus aromaticus
vsPlectranthus amboinicus
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant with soft leaves and a strong smell used in cooking and medicine

is native mainly to southern and eastern Africa rather than India or Sri Lanka
country borage
vsPlectranthus amboinicus
  • Indian
9.9

A fragrant herb with thick leaves used in cooking and medicine

is native mainly to southern and eastern Africa rather than India or Sri Lanka

Surface Forms

Plectranthus amboinicus singular
Plectranthus amboinici plural

Morphology

Plectranthus + amboinicus

This is a scientific Latin binomial: knowing 'Plectranthus' only signals a plant genus and 'amboinicus' is not a standard English word (and is not listed), so the detailed meaning (an aromatic perennial used in cooking and medicine, native to specific regions) cannot be derived from the parts. Scientific names are proper nouns and not compositionally informative for learners, so a B1 learner who 'knows' the constituents would still not infer the full MWE meaning.

Etymology

Plectranthus amboinicus has thick, fuzzy leaves that give off a strong oregano-like smell, so people kept it near the stove and used it to flavor food and soothe coughs. That's why the name now means a small, fragrant herb used for 'cooking' and 'home medicine'.