Dictionary

catnip

noun cat·nip \-ˌnip\

: a type of mint that has a strong smell which is attractive to cats

Full Definition of CATNIP

1
:  a strong-scented perennial mint (Nepeta cataria) that has whorls of small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats
2
:  something very attractive
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Origin of CATNIP

1cat + obsolete nep catnip, from Middle English, from Old English nepte, from Latin nepeta
First Known Use: 1712
CATNIP Defined for Kids

catnip

noun cat·nip \ˈkat-ˌnip\

Definition of CATNIP for Kids

:  a plant that is a mint with a smell especially attractive to cats
Medical Dictionary

catnip

noun cat·nip \-ˌnip\

Medical Definition of CATNIP

1
:  a strong-scented mint (Nepeta cataria) that has small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats—called also cataria, catmint
2
:  cataria 2

Variants of CATNIP

cat·nip also cat·nep \-ˌnep, -nəp\

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