Definition of "chamomile" [cham•o•mile]

• An aromatic perennial herb (Chamaemelum nobile) in the composite family, native to Europe and the Mediterranean region, having feathery foliage and flower heads with white rays and yellow centers. (noun)
• A similar, related Eurasian annual plant (Matricaria recutita). (noun)
• The dried flower heads of either one of these plants, used to make an herbal tea and yielding an oil used in commercial flavorings and perfumery. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Your faith in chamomile, those nights when the Devil seeks a soul and the body is a riddle of ashes."
• "My primer also absorbs excess oil and is packed with calming ingredients like chamomile, which is a rock star ingredient in the winter since it reduced redness that can be a result of harsh winds."
• "For children, she likes the prepared homeopathic version of chamomile, which is good for sleep problems, for its calming effects and for soothing for teething babies."