noun
any plant of the genus Leucothoe; grown for their beautiful white flowers; glossy foliage contains a poisonous substance similar to that found in genus Kalmia
• Member Holonyms: ↑genus Leucothoe
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\\lüˈkäthəˌwē\ nounEtymology: New Latin, from Latin Leucothoe, legendary Persian princess supposed to have been changed by Apollo into a sweet-scented shrub
1. capitalized : a large genus of American and Asiatic shrubs of the family Ericaceae with herbage that contains a poisonous substance similar to that found in shrubs of the genus Kalmia and with flowers in terminal and axillary one-sided racemes
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/looh koth"oh ee'/, n.
any of various shrubs of the genus Leucothoe, of the heath family, having clusters of white or pinkish flowers.
[ < NL (1834), after L Leucothoe a legendary princess turned into a fragrant bush by Apollo]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.