mandrake
2 synonyms for mandrake, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A plant (genus Mandragora) with a forked root that can resemble a human figure, long associated with magic and folklore.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
mandrake root
devil's apples
Etymology
From Middle English mandrake, altered from mandragora after its ending was mistakenly linked to "dragon" and respelled with "drake."
Full origin of mandrake →Frequently asked questions
What does “mandrake” mean?
The word “mandrake” means a plant (genus Mandragora) with a forked root that can resemble a human figure, long associated with magic and folklore. In plain terms, a real plant famous in folklore for its human-shaped root and magical associations, and a name borrowed by fantasy fiction for a similar plant-creature.
How do you pronounce “mandrake”?
“Mandrake” is pronounced MAND-rayk (/ˈmændɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “mandrake” in a sentence?
Here is “mandrake” used in a sentence: “Medieval herbalists believed pulling a mandrake root could cause a deadly scream.”
What part of speech is “mandrake”?
“Mandrake” is a noun.
Where does the word “mandrake” come from?
The word “mandrake” comes from Middle English. From Middle English mandrake, altered from mandragora after its ending was mistakenly linked to "dragon" and respelled with "drake.".
How many meanings does “mandrake” have?
“Mandrake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plant (genus Mandragora) with a forked root that can resemble a human figure, long associated with magic and folklore.
