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.

2. Chem. (a)

Litmus.

[Obs.] (b)

A purple dye obtained from the plant turnsole. See def. 1 (d).

 

© Webster 1913.