kudzu

noun

kud·zu | \ ˈku̇d-(ˌ)zü

Definition of kudzu

: a fast-growing Asian vine (Pueraria lobata) of the legume family that is used for forage and erosion control and is often a serious weed in the southeastern U.S.

Examples of kudzu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Impressed by the vigor of kudzu, agriculturalists recommended using these plants to provide animal fodder and prevent soil erosion. — Amanda Foreman, WSJ, "Overrun by Alien Species," 1 Nov. 2018 In the 1930s, the government was even paying Southern farmers $8 per acre to plant kudzu. — Amanda Foreman, WSJ, "Overrun by Alien Species," 1 Nov. 2018 Likewise, kudzu makes great salsa, and Japanese knotweed can be treated like rhubarb. — Amanda Foreman, WSJ, "Overrun by Alien Species," 1 Nov. 2018 In Congress, liberal bills are proliferating like kudzu. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "Centrist Democrats are out of ideas," 30 July 2018 Given that the modern regulatory state has grown like kudzu, nobody in Congress or the Bush Administration gave the FHFA’s structure a second thought. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Calling Judge Kavanaugh," 29 July 2018 The plant is also used in Chinese medicine for treating allergies, colds, fevers and as a digestive aid. Brew a kudzu tea by chopping up a cup of leaves and boiling them for about 30 minutes to treat what ails you. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "8 Backyard Weeds You Can Actually Eat," 3 Apr. 2017 By then, the disease had carpeted her pelvic organs like kudzu. — Jena Pincott, Scientific American, "The Science of Endometriosis," 15 May 2018 Buildings are unencumbered by kudzu or graffiti and have tidy, sparsely furnished rooms, as though the inhabitants had only just fled (or been vaporized). — Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, "How Fortnite Captured Teens’ Hearts and Minds," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kudzu.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.