Pleu·ri·sy n.  Med. An inflammation of the pleura, usually accompanied with fever, pain, difficult respiration, and cough, and with exudation into the pleural cavity.
 Pleurisy root. Bot. (a) The large tuberous root of a kind of milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which is used as a remedy for pleuritic and other diseases. (b) The plant itself, which has deep orange-colored flowers; -- called also butterfly weed.

 ◄ ►


 Asclepias tuberosa
      n : erect perennial of eastern and southern United States having
          showy orange flowers [syn: butterfly weed, {orange
          milkweed, chigger flower, chiggerflower, {pleurisy
          root, tuber root, Indian paintbrush]