n.
Pronunciation: ' kr ō -t ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, genus name, from Greek krot ō n castor-oil plant
Date: 1751
1 : any of a genus ( Croton ) of herbs, shrubs, and trees of the spurge family: as a : one ( C. eluteria ) of the Bahamas yielding cascarilla bark b : an Asian plant ( C. tiglium ) yielding croton oil
2 : any of a genus ( Codiaeum ) of shrubs and trees related to the crotons