spurge
1 synonym for spurge, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Any plant of the large genus Euphorbia, or of the wider family to which it belongs.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
euphorbia
How to use spurge
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a spurge plant
the spurge family
It is a gardening and botanical term.
Etymology
It comes from Middle English, which took it from Old French espurge, itself from espurgier, meaning to purge, and ultimately from Latin. The name points to the plants' bitter, milky sap, once taken as a purge.
Full origin of spurge →Frequently asked questions
What is a spurge?
A spurge is a plant of the genus Euphorbia, a group with more than 2,000 species. The word can also cover plants of the wider spurge family.
Why is it called spurge?
The name goes back to an Old French word meaning to purge. People once took the plants' bitter, milky juice to clear the body.
Is spurge the same as euphorbia?
Yes, in the main sense spurge and euphorbia name the same group of plants. Euphorbia is the scientific genus name.
