herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb
b
of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season
2
: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Soft woodland notes accompany the more traditional, aromatic pine and spice, grounded in an earthy, herbaceous base. Ameunier, oregonlive, 11 Aug. 2023 Based on the research reports he’s studied, Means says a black bear’s diet is usually 80 to 90 percent herbaceous material—that is grasses, leaves, berries, nuts, and agricultural crops. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 Aug. 2023 But late summer is a time when many herbaceous plants in the garden are chopped and dropped, including the comfrey, for the last time this year. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 15 Aug. 2023 There are over 800 species of this this hardy herbaceous plant. Shirley MacFarland, cleveland, 3 Aug. 2023 Use Arnica Cream The herbaceous plant arnica is used to treat aches, inflammation, and wounds when applied topically as a cream, ointment, or salve, according to Mount Sinai. Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 14 July 2023 The scents of the products alone — clean musks, herbaceous woods, Le Labo Santal 33 — turned first-time customers into lifetime users. Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 12 July 2023 Sweet and very mildly drying on the palate with herbaceous notes of cut grass, brushy/forest floor, and vegetative flavors of green beans. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 3 May 2023 Robust and filling, as well as drippy, juicy, crunchy and herbaceous, these aren’t for the faint of heart or for people wearing crisp white shirts. Mara Severin | Eating Out, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbaceous was in 1640

Dictionary Entries Near herbaceous

Cite this Entry

“Herbaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbaceous. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective
her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling an herb
2
: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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