lu·pine¹ also lu·pin (lū'pən)
n.
Any of numerous plants of the genus Lupinus in the pea family, having palmately compound leaves and variously colored flowers grouped in spikes or racemes.

[Middle English, from Old French lupin, from Latin lupīnum, from neuter of lupīnus, wolflike. See lupine².]

lu·pine² (lū'pīn')
adj.

1. Characteristic of or resembling a wolf.
2. Rapacious; ravenous.

[French, from Latin lupīnus, from lupus, wolf.]

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---