'Turnsole' definitions:

Definition of 'Turnsole'

From: GCIDE
  • Turnsole \Turn"sole`\, n. [F. tournesol, It. tornasole; tornare to turn (LL. tornare) + sole the sun, L. sol. See Turn, Solar, a., and cf. Heliotrope.] [Written also turnsol.]
  • 1. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Heliotropium; heliotrope; -- so named because its flowers are supposed to turn toward the sun. (b) The sunflower. (c) A kind of spurge (Euphorbia Helioscopia). (d) The euphorbiaceous plant Chrozophora tinctoria. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Chem.) (a) Litmus. [Obs.] (b) A purple dye obtained from the plant turnsole. See def. 1 (d) . [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'turnsole'

From: GCIDE
  • Heliotrope \He"li*o*trope\, n. [F. h['e]liotrope, L. heliotropium, Gr. ?; ? the sun + ? to turn, ? turn. See Heliacal, Trope.]
  • 1. (Anc. Astron.) An instrument or machine for showing when the sun arrived at the tropics and equinoctial line. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Heliotropium; -- called also turnsole and girasole. Heliotropium Peruvianum is the commonly cultivated species with fragrant flowers. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Geodesy & Signal Service) An instrument for making signals to an observer at a distance, by means of the sun's rays thrown from a mirror. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Min.) See Bloodstone (a) . [1913 Webster]
  • Heliotrope purple, a grayish purple color. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Turnsole'