The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

mandrake root \mandrake root\ n.
   The root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a
   narcotic; as a substance it is also called mandrake.
   [WordNet 1.5]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

mandrake \man"drake\ (m[a^]n"dr[=a]k), n. [AS. mandragora, L.
   mandragoras, fr. Gr. mandrago`ras: cf. F. mandragore.]
   1. (Bot.) A low plant (Mandragora officinarum) of the
      Nightshade family, having a fleshy root, often forked, and
      supposed to resemble a man. It was therefore supposed to
      have animal life, and to cry out when pulled up. All parts
      of the plant are strongly narcotic. It is found in the
      Mediterranean region.
      [1913 Webster]

            And shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the earth,
            That living mortals, hearing them, run mad. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The mandrake of Scripture was perhaps the same plant,
         but proof is wanting.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum). See May
      apple under May, and Podophyllum. [U.S.]
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

May \May\, n. [F. Mai, L. Maius; so named in honor of the
   goddess Maia (Gr. Mai^a), daughter of Atlas and mother of
   Mercury by Jupiter.]
   1. The fifth month of the year, containing thirty-one days.
      --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The early part or springtime of life.
      [1913 Webster]

            His May of youth, and bloom of lustihood. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Bot.) The flowers of the hawthorn; -- so called from
      their time of blossoming; also, the hawthorn.
      [1913 Webster]

            The palm and may make country houses gay. --Nash.
      [1913 Webster]

            Plumes that mocked the may.           --Tennyson.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. The merrymaking of May Day. --Tennyson.
      [1913 Webster]

   Italian may (Bot.), a shrubby species of Spiraea
      (Spiraea hypericifolia) with many clusters of small
      white flowers along the slender branches.

   May apple (Bot.), the fruit of an American plant
      (Podophyllum peltatum). Also, the plant itself
      (popularly called mandrake), which has two lobed leaves,
      and bears a single egg-shaped fruit at the forking. The
      root and leaves, used in medicine, are powerfully drastic.


   May beetle, May bug (Zool.), any one of numerous species
      of large lamellicorn beetles that appear in the winged
      state in May. They belong to Melolontha, and allied
      genera. Called also June beetle.

   May Day, the first day of May; -- celebrated in the rustic
      parts of England by the crowning of a May queen with a
      garland, and by dancing about a May pole.

   May dew, the morning dew of the first day of May, to which
      magical properties were attributed.

   May flower (Bot.), a plant that flowers in May; also, its
      blossom. See Mayflower, in the vocabulary.

   May fly (Zool.), any species of Ephemera, and allied
      genera; -- so called because the mature flies of many
      species appear in May. See Ephemeral fly, under
      Ephemeral.

   May game, any May-day sport.

   May lady, the queen or lady of May, in old May games.

   May lily (Bot.), the lily of the valley (Convallaria
      majalis).

   May pole. See Maypole in the Vocabulary.

   May queen, a girl or young woman crowned queen in the
      sports of May Day.

   May thorn, the hawthorn.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

mandrake
    n 1: the root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a
         narcotic [syn: mandrake root, mandrake]
    2: a plant of southern Europe and North Africa having purple
       flowers, yellow fruits and a forked root formerly thought to
       have magical powers [syn: mandrake, devil's apples,
       Mandragora officinarum]