alyssum

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈælɪsəm/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(ə lisəm)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
a•lys•sum  (ə lisəm),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Alyssum, of the mustard family, having clusters of small yellow or white flowers.
  2. any of several related plants of the genus Aurinia, as A. saxatilis, a widely cultivated species with yellow flowers.
  3. See sweet alyssum. 
  • Greek, neuter of ályssos curing (canine) madness, equivalent. to a- a-6 + lýss(a) madness + -os adjective, adjectival suffix
  • Neo-Latin; Latin alysson
  • 1545–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
alyssum /ˈælɪsəm/ n
  1. any widely cultivated herbaceous garden plant of the genus Alyssum, having clusters of small yellow or white flowers: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
    See also sweet alyssum
Etymology: 16th Century: from New Latin, from Greek alusson, from alussos (adj) curing rabies, referring to the ancient belief in the plant's healing properties
'alyssum' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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