Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Artichoke \Ar"ti*choke\, n. [It. articiocco, perh. corrupted fr.
   the same word as carciofo; cf. older spellings archiciocco,
   archicioffo, carciocco, and Sp. alcachofa, Pg. alcachofra;
   prob. fr. Ar. al-harshaf, al-kharsh[=u]f.] (Bot.)
   1. The {Cynara scolymus}, a plant somewhat resembling a
      thistle, with a dilated, imbricated, and prickly
      involucre. The head (to which the name is also applied) is
      composed of numerous oval scales, inclosing the florets,
      sitting on a broad receptacle, which, with the fleshy base
      of the scales, is much esteemed as an article of food.

   2. See {Jerusalem artichoke}.

Source : WordNet®

artichoke
     n 1: Mediterranean thistlelike plant widely cultivated for its
          large edible flower head [syn: {globe artichoke}, {artichoke
          plant}, {Cynara scolymus}]
     2: a thistle-like flower head with edible fleshy leaves and
        heart [syn: {globe artichoke}]