[ rə'nʌŋkjʊləs ]
■ noun ( plural ~es or ranunculi -lʌɪ , -li: ) a plant of a genus that includes the buttercups and water crowfoots, typically having yellow or white bowl-shaped flowers and lobed or toothed leaves. [Genus Ranunculus : many species.]
Origin
mod. L., from L., lit. 'little frog', dimin. of rana .