herb

noun

ˈərb How to pronounce herb (audio)
 US also and British usually  ˈhərb
often attributive
1
botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season
2
: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities
planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden
3
herblike adjective
herby adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs rosemary, sage, and other herbs
Recent Examples on the Web Using chamomile in a cream or a homemade paste (made by mixing powdered herbs and water) may help with skin conditions. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 Without Hermione's brains, Harry would never know which herb or incantation to use. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 There’s Nabil, the lady who sells the herbs and spices, the butchers, the bakers. Anastasia Miari, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2024 In the start of the video, the Taste the Nation star showed a simple wedge salad recipe topped with lots of herbs. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Garnishes such as orange or lemon zest, or even a sprig of herbs like thyme or rosemary, can enhance the drink's aromatic qualities and potentially pair well with certain foods. Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The dish is often flavored with garlic, onion, or herbs. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Start annual herbs and flower seeds including borage, basil, calendula, sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias and cosmos. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Vegetarian options: Several, including eggplant parmigiana, and spaghetti tossed with raw tomatoes, herbs and olive oil. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'herb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of herb was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near herb

Cite this Entry

“Herb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herb. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

herb

noun
1
: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season
2
: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun
often attributive
1
: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season
2
: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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