[ və'lɪərɪən ]
■ noun
1》 a plant bearing clusters of small pink, red, or white flowers. [ Valeriana officinalis , Centranthus ruber ( red ~ ), and other species.]
2》 a drug obtained from a ~ root, used as a sedative and antispasmodic.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , from med. L. ~a (herba) , appar. the feminine of Valerianus 'of Valerius' (a personal name).