spurge (spûrj)n. Any of numerous herbs, shrubs, or trees of the genus Euphorbia, characteristically having milky juice and a cluster of small unisexual flowers that are surrounded by a cuplike structure composed of fused bracts. Also called euphorbia.[Middle English, from Old French espurge, from espurgier, to purge (from its use as a purgative), from Latin exp?rg?re; see expurgate.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.spurge (sp??d?) n (Plants) any of various euphorbiaceous plants of the genus Euphorbia that have milky sap and small flowers typically surrounded by conspicuous bracts. Some species have purgative properties[C14: from Old French espurge, from espurgier to purge, from Latin expurg?re to cleanse, from ex-1 + purg?re to purge]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014spurge (sp?rd?) n. any of numerous plants of the genus Euphorbia, having flowers with no petals or sepals. [1350?1400; Middle English