kudzu

== English == === Alternative forms === kuzu === Etymology === From Japanese 葛(くず) (kuzu). The spelling kudzu (instead of kuzu) is due to the historical transliteration methods of Japanese into English (compare adzuki). === Pronunciation === enPR: ko͝odʹzo͞o, IPA(key): /ˈkʊd.zuː/ enPR: kŭdʹzo͞o, IPA(key): /ˈkʌd.zuː/ === Noun === kudzu (usually uncountable, plural kudzus) An Asian vine (several species in the genus Pueraria, but mostly Pueraria montana var. lobata, syn. Pueraria lobata in the US), grown as a root starch, and which is a notorious invasive weed in the United States. Synonyms: Chinese arrowroot, East Asian arrowroot, Japanese arrowroot, kudzu vine, mile-a-minute (cooking, medicine) A starch extracted from the root that is used in traditional East Asian medicine and cuisine. Synonym: kudzu powder ==== Usage notes ==== The invasive kudzu in the US apparently includes natural hybrids of four species of Pueraria: Pueraria montana, Pueraria edulis, Pueraria phaseoloides, and Pueraria tuberosa. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === kudzu on Wikipedia.Wikipedia kudzu powder on Wikipedia.Wikipedia