borage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist, Culinary, Botanical
Quick answer
What does “borage” mean?
A Mediterranean herb, Borago officinalis, with rough, hairy leaves and bright blue star-shaped flowers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Mediterranean herb, Borago officinalis, with rough, hairy leaves and bright blue star-shaped flowers.
The leaves and flowers of the borage plant, used in culinary preparations (e.g., salads, drinks) and traditionally valued in herbal medicine for their mild diuretic and soothing properties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The plant is known and used in both regions, though perhaps more commonly referenced in UK gardening and traditional herbal contexts.
Connotations
Connotes gardening, traditional/herbal remedies, and sometimes gourmet or foraged cuisine.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects. Slightly more likely to appear in UK gardening publications.
Grammar
How to Use “borage” in a Sentence
grow [borage]use [borage] inadd [borage] togarnish with [borage]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Very rare. Might appear in contexts of herbal supplement, tea, or seed commerce.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, pharmacology, and culinary arts papers.
Everyday
Rare in general conversation. Used by gardeners, cooks interested in herbs, or herbal remedy enthusiasts.
Technical
Used in botanical and pharmacological texts referring to Borago officinalis, its cultivation, or its chemical constituents (e.g., gamma-linolenic acid).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “borage”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “borage”
- Misspelling as 'borrage' or 'borige'.
- Mispronouncing the final syllable as /ɑːʒ/ or /eɪdʒ/.
- Using it as a countable noun in plural for a single plant (e.g., 'a borage' is correct, not 'a borage plant' is redundant but common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both the leaves and the flowers are edible. The leaves have a cucumber-like taste and are used in salads and drinks, while the flowers are often used as a decorative garnish.
No, they are different plants, though both are hairy herbs sometimes used in traditional medicine. They belong to different genera (Borago vs. Symphytum) and have different chemical properties.
It's called starflower because its five-petaled, bright blue flowers have a distinct, perfect star shape.
Yes, borage is an annual herb known for being easy to grow from seed. It often self-seeds readily, can tolerate poor soil, and prefers full sun.
A Mediterranean herb, Borago officinalis, with rough, hairy leaves and bright blue star-shaped flowers.
Borage is usually specialist, culinary, botanical in register.
Borage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒr.ɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɔːr.ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Borage rhymes with 'courage'. Think: "It takes courage to eat a hairy leaf." Or, "Blue borage by the cottage door-age."
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A for this concrete noun.
Practice
Quiz
What is borage most commonly used for?