1. A genus of plants in the legume family, some species of which are used in traditional medicine, especially in Asia.
Usage: botanical term; often used in herbal medicine contexts
2. The ankle bone; the bone in the ankle that connects the leg to the foot.
Usage: anatomical term; also called talus in modern anatomy

Examples

• Astragalus is a popular ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.
• The herbalist recommended astragalus supplements to boost immunity.
• The astragalus bone is one of the largest bones in the foot.
• Fractures of the astragalus can be serious and require careful treatment.
• Several species of astragalus grow wild in the western United States.
• The doctor examined the patient's astragalus after the ankle injury.