Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of several plants of the family Valerianaceae, especially Valeriana officinalis, native to Eurasia and widely cultivated for its small, fragrant, white to pink or lavender flowers and for use in medicine.
  • noun The dried rhizomes of Valeriana officinalis, used medicinally as a sedative.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A plant of the genus Valeriana.
  • noun The rootstocks of the officinal valerian, or some preparation from them.
  • Pertaining to any one of the name of Valerius

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Valeriana. The root of the officinal valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has a strong smell, and is much used in medicine as an antispasmodic.
  • noun (Bot.) a plant (Polemonium cæruleum) with blue or white flowers, and leaves resembling those of the officinal valerian.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers.
  • noun More generally, any plant of the genus Valeriana.
  • noun uncountable The root of Valeriana officinalis, used in herbal medicine.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a plant of the genus Valeriana having lobed or dissected leaves and cymose white or pink flowers

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French valeriane, from Medieval Latin valeriāna, probably from feminine of Latin Valeriānus, of Valeria, Roman province where the plant originated.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French valeriane or mediaeval Latin valeriana, from the personal name Valerius.

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Examples

  • Commonly used ingredients already registered include echinacea, which is used against colds, St John's wort, used for depression and anxiety, and valerian, which is claimed to ease insomnia.

    Herbal remedies banned as new EU rules take effect 2011

  • It is covered with a very soft, hoary, velvet-like down, and has a strong, pungent, aromatic odour, like penny royal or valerian, that is peculiarly grateful to cats, whence its specific and English names.

    The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 20, No. 560, August 4, 1832 Various

  • The valerian is a perennial herb, multiplying itself yearly by [403] slender rootstocks or runners producing at their tips new rosettes of leaves and in the center of these the flowering stem.

    Species and Varieties, Their Origin by Mutation Hugo de Vries 1891

  • Melatonin is used for the latter, while ingredients such as valerian root and chamomile take care of the former, Healy says.

    Can relaxation drinks put you to sleep? Rachel Saslow 2011

  • As it was, I had a question for him, an inquiry about a flower called "valerian".

    feuilleton - French Word-A-Day 2008

  • • Try a natural sleep remedy, such as valerian, chamomile or melatonin.

    www.appeal-democrat.com - News : By Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz/King Features 2010

  • Hormone replacement therapy and natural sleep remedies such as valerian can also help, says Northrup.

    AARP.org : 2010

  • • Try a natural sleep remedy, such as valerian, chamomile or melatonin.

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local editor@denverpost.com (<B>By Dr. Michael Roizen a 2010

  • While the relaxation drinks have different flavors and ingredients, they all contain nutritional supplements known for their calming effects, such as valerian root, melatonin and chamomile.

    Freep.com - RSS 2009

  • While the relaxation drinks have different flavors and ingredients, they all contain nutritional supplements known for their calming effects, such as valerian root, melatonin and chamomile.

    unknown title 2009

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