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weed1 definition

weed (wēd)

noun

  1. any undesired, uncultivated plant, esp. one growing in profusion so as to crowd out a desired crop, disfigure a lawn, etc.
  2. Informal
    1. tobacco: with the
    2. a cigar or cigarette
    3. marijuana
  3. something useless; specif., a horse that is unfit for racing or breeding

Etymology: ME weede < OE weod, akin to LowG wēd: base only in WGmc

transitive verb

  1. to remove the weeds from (a garden, lawn, etc.)
  2. to remove (a weed): often with out
  3. to remove as useless, harmful, etc.: often with out
  4. to rid of elements regarded as useless, harmful, etc.

intransitive verb

to remove weeds, etc.

Related Forms:

weed2 definition

weed (wēd)

noun

  1. Archaic a garment: often used in pl.
  2. black mourning clothes, esp. those worn by a widow
  3. a black mourning band, as of crepe, worn on a man's hat or sleeve

Etymology: ME wede < OE wæde, garment, akin to OHG wāt (Ger -wand, in leinwand, linen) < IE base *(a)wē-, to weave > ON authna, fate (in reference to the spinning by the fate goddesses)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

weed Synonyms

weed

n.

  1. Wild plant

    noxious weed, uncultivated plant, unwanted plant, prolific plant; see plant.

    Common weeds include: ragweed, nettle, wild morning-glory, pigweed, buckthorn, dandelion, lamb's quarters, buttonweed, dog fennel, plantain, quack grass, couch grass, crab grass, jimson weed, ironweed, wild sunflower, wild hemp, horsemint, foxtail, milkweed, wild barley, wild buckwheat, mullein, cheat grass, Russian thistle, tumbleweed, burdock, wild carrot, Queen Anne's lace, wild parsley, tarweed, vervain, vetch, purslane, wild onion, wild mustard.

  2. *Cigarette or cigar

    tobacco, coffin nail*, fag*, joint*; see tobacco.

  3. *Marijuana

    pot*, boo*, smoke*, grass*, Maryjane*; see also marijuana.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

weed Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • suppress: Ground Cover Plants - Plants that carpet the ground with dense growth suppressing weeds.

Adjective modifier

  • perennial: The type of weed control depends on whether annual or perennial weeds are present.

Modifies a noun

  • killer: Two doses of weed killer were put down which eventually turned all of the grass brown.

Noun used with modifier

  • broadleaf: Grass and broadleaf weed populations varied between the organic and conventional systems each year, but the impact on yield was considered negligible.
weed usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

weed quotes

Sand-strewn caverns, cool and deep, Where the winds are all asleep; Where the spent lights quiver and gleam; Where the salt weed sways in the stream.

-Arnold, Matthew

Desire of power, on earth a vicious weed, Yet, sprung from high, is of celestial seed: In God 'tisglory; and when men aspire, 'Tis but a spark too much of heavenly fire.

-Dryden,John

weed quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"weed." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/weed>

APA Style

weed. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/weed

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