derris

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈdɛrɪs/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(der′is)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
der•ris  (der′is),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Plant Biologyany East Indian plant belonging to the genus Derris, of the legume family, esp. D. elliptica, the roots of which contain rotenone and are used as an insecticide.
  • Greek: a covering, derivative of déros skin, hide; see derma1
  • Neo-Latin 1855–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
derris /ˈdɛrɪs/ n
  1. any East Indian leguminous woody climbing plant of the genus Derris, esp D. elliptica, whose roots yield the compound rotenone
Etymology: 19th Century: New Latin, from Greek: covering, leather, from deros skin, hide, from derein to skin
'derris' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
rotenone

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