herb Hear it!

herb definition

herb (ʉrb, hʉrb)

noun

  1. any seed plant whose stem withers away to the ground after each season's growth, as distinguished from a tree or shrub whose woody stem lives from year to year
  2. any plant used as a medicine, seasoning, or flavoring: mint, thyme, basil, and sage are herbs
  3. vegetative growth; grass
  4. Slang marijuana

Etymology: ME erbe, herbe < OFr < L herba, grass, herbage, herb < IE *gherdha < base *gher- > grass

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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