herb

noun

ˈərb 

 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

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of us older gardeners referred to them as plantain lilies because their broad leaves resemble a common weed (or herb depending on one’s perspective), plantain. —Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 13 July 2024

Ways to enjoy celery include: Sauté or braise celery, or add it to a stir-fry. Make a celery soup with garlic and potatoes sautéed in olive oil, broth (also hydrating), and herbs. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

From there, fruits, herbs, botanicals, and spices build the beverage. —Andrew Watman, WIRED, 11 July 2024

Official tasting notes describe fresh fruit like apricots, peaches, plum, and blackcurrant on the palate, with soft tannins and herbs on the finish. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

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

ˈ(h)ərb 

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