seed Hear it!

seed Definition

seed (sēd)

noun pl. seeds or seed

  1. the part of a flowering plant that typically contains the embryo with its protective coat and stored food and that can develop into a new plant under the proper conditions; fertilized and mature ovule
  2. loosely
    1. any part, as a bulb, tuber, etc., from which a new plant can grow a potato seed
    2. a small, usually hard, seedlike fruit
  3. seeds collectively
  4. the source, origin, or beginning of anything the seeds of revolt
  5. Archaic
    1. descendants; posterity
    2. ancestry
    1. in the development of certain lower animals, a form suitable for transplanting, as spat
    2. the seed-bearing stage or condition in seed
  7. spore ()
  8. sperm or semen
  9. something tiny, like a seed; esp.,
    1. ☆ a tiny crystal or other particle, as one added to a solution or liquid to start crystallization
    2. a tiny bubble, as a flaw in glassware
  10. ☆ Sports a seeded player

Etymology: ME sede < OE sæd, akin to Ger saat < IE base *sē(i)-, to cast, let fall > L serere, to sow, plant, sator, sower, semen, seed

transitive verb

  1. to plant with seeds
  2. to sow (seeds)
  3. to remove the seeds from
  4. ☆ to inject, fill, or scatter with seeds (see seed, sense ); esp., to sprinkle particles of dry ice, silver iodide, etc. into (clouds) in an attempt to induce rainfall
  5. to provide with the means or stimulus for growing or developing
  6. Sports
    1. to distribute the names of the ranking contestants in (the draw for position in a tournament) so that those with the greatest skill are not matched together in the early rounds
    2. to treat (a player) as a ranking contestant in this way

intransitive verb

  1. to form seeds; specif., to become ripe and produce seeds
  2. to go to seed; shed seeds
  3. to sow seeds

seed Related Forms

seed′ed adjective seed′·less adjective

seed Idioms

go to seed

or run to seed
  1. to shed seeds after the time of flowering or bearing has passed
  2. to become weak, useless, unprofitable, etc.; deteriorate

seed Synonyms

seed

n.

  1. A botanical ovule].

    Seeds and fruits commonly called seeds include: grain, kernel, berry, ear, corn, nut.

  2. Something to be planted

    grain, bulbs, cuttings, ears, tubers, roots; seed corn, seed potatoes, etc.

go<strong> or </strong>run to seed

decline, worsen, run out; see decay, waste 3.

seed Synonyms

seed

v.

scatter, strew, broadcast; see plant, sow.

seed Usage Examples

Converse of subject

propagate: It can be propagated by seed in the spring or divided in the autumn or spring.

Converse of object

  • sow: To grow, sow seed indoors during the late winter.
  • germinate: The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh also has facilities to germinate seed to test for viability.
  • sprout: Shri Mataji says: " How much do you pay to the Mother Earth to sprout a seed?
  • scatter: Rattle, rattle rattle, scattering scarlet poppy seeds.

Adjective modifier

  • poppy: Rattle, rattle rattle, scattering scarlet poppy seeds.
  • viable: Wych Elm produces a mass of viable seed with relatively young trees reach fruiting maturity.
  • seventh: The seventh seeds now face Canada's 11th seeds Runa Reta & Matthew Giuffre for a place in the quarter-finals.

Modifies a noun

  • pod: Our seed taken from ornamental plants exhibits bright scarlet seed pods on two year old or more plants.
  • rape: These crops along Oil seed rape will be cut in August, combines everywhere will be working flat out to bring in the harvest.
  • germination: My suggestions apply both to small scale seed germination & to keeping adult plants ticking over in UK winter.
  • dispersal: Persistence and Spread: There is no obvious seed dispersal mechanism.
  • packet: Before planting, have the children figure the area and read seed packets for spacing requirements.
  • tray: Seed trays are good enough for plants that you are beginning with.

Noun used with modifier

  • sesame: Grind toasted sesame seeds to a meal in a electric blender.
  • sunflower: Sunflower seeds reduce cravings for nicotine by filling nicotine receptor sites.
  • mustard: Mustard seeds are available from Philip Harris, garden centers or health food shops.
  • pumpkin: What is it about pumpkin seeds - pinging off everywhere!
  • cumin: Add tomato paste, vegetable pulp, chopped onion, chopped celery, and cumin seeds.
  • weed: The next hurdle to overcome is the weeds seeds.