a. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the amaranth is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]
prop. n. [ NL. ] (Bot.) A genus of endogenous plants found in tropical America, and some species also in India. They have tuberous roots containing a large amount of starch, and from one species (Maranta arundinacea, the
prop. n. A natural family of tropical perennial herbs with usually starchy rhizomes, including the arrowroot; the arrowroot family.