broomrape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/TechnicalBotanical/Scientific; occasionally literary.
Quick answer
What does “broomrape” mean?
A parasitic plant that lacks chlorophyll and attaches to the roots of other plants, especially broom or legumes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A parasitic plant that lacks chlorophyll and attaches to the roots of other plants, especially broom or legumes.
Any plant of the genus Orobanche, which parasitises the roots of various host plants. The term can be used metaphorically to describe a parasitic or exploitative relationship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in meaning. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British field guides due to the prevalence of Common Broom (Cytisus scoparius).
Connotations
Neutral botanical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, used only in specific botanical contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “broomrape” in a Sentence
broomrape (on/of [host plant])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broomrape” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This field has been badly broomraped.
American English
- The legume crop was broomraped, reducing the yield.
adjective
British English
- The broomrape infestation was severe.
American English
- Broomrape damage is hard to reverse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in botanical, ecological, and agricultural texts discussing parasitic plant species and their impact on crops.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in botany, horticulture, and agriculture for plants of the genus Orobanche.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broomrape”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broomrape”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broomrape”
- Mispronouncing 'rape' with a violent connotation rather than the historical botanical meaning.
- Spelling as two words: 'broom rape'.
- Using it as a verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Rape' in 'broomrape' comes from the Latin 'rapum' (tuber). 'Rape' in 'rapeseed' comes from the Latin 'rapum' for 'turnip', due to the shape of its root. They share an etymological root but refer to entirely different plants.
The plant itself is not poisonous to humans, but it is a serious agricultural pest that can devastate crops like tomatoes, legumes, and sunflowers.
In technical agricultural contexts, it is sometimes used informally as a verb (e.g., 'the field was broomraped'), but this is non-standard. The standard term is 'infested with broomrape'.
It was first commonly observed and described parasitising plants of the broom genus (Cytisus). Different species are now named after their preferred hosts, e.g., 'clover broomrape'.
A parasitic plant that lacks chlorophyll and attaches to the roots of other plants, especially broom or legumes.
Broomrape is usually botanical/scientific; occasionally literary. in register.
Broomrape: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbruːmreɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrumˌreɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'broom' plant being 'grabbed' (the old meaning of 'rape') by its roots.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARASITISM IS THEFT (of nutrients, water, life).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a broomrape?