milkweed

noun milk·weed \ ˈmilk-ˌwēd \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of milkweed

: any of various plants that secrete latex; especially : any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers

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Recent Examples of milkweed from the Web

If your dad is a fan, the milkweed plant giveaway will repeat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 17.

— joan rusek, cleveland.com, "Put a spring in your step during Chagrin Falls Arts Hop this weekend: Valley Views," 30 Apr. 2018
In Audubon Park, residents are planting milkweed in planter boxes at apartments and businesses.

— ryan gillespie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Central Florida community works to bring back monarch butterflies," 30 Apr. 2018
Monarchs seek refuge in the milkweed and lay their eggs on it.

— ryan gillespie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Central Florida community works to bring back monarch butterflies," 30 Apr. 2018
But small areas of milkweed in a yard can provide nesting grounds for Monarchs and other pollinators.

— joan rusek, cleveland.com, "Put a spring in your step during Chagrin Falls Arts Hop this weekend: Valley Views," 30 Apr. 2018
Non-native milkweed species planted in the southern U.S. could harm monarch butterflies as temperatures rise.

— jason g. goldman, Scientific American, "Planting Milkweed for Monarchs? Make Sure it's Native," 16 Apr. 2018
Then focus on adding more seasonal diversity, like milkweeds for summer, asters for fall.

— andrea f. siegel, baltimoresun.com, "Sykesville author's tips on gardening in harmony with wildlife," 20 Mar. 2018
Come mid-March, spring flowers like desert marigolds, brittle brush, and perry penstemon fill the park’s several gardens with color, and native milkweed attracts monarch butterflies.

— Sunset, "Where to See Wildflowers This Season," 22 Jan. 2018
Helping monarchs, for many people, means planting milkweed and then noticing if one fluttered into your living room.

— joe trezza, Washington Post, "Monarch butterfly migration was off this year and researchers are worried," 20 Jan. 2018

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

Illustration of milkweed

First Known Use of milkweed

circa 1592

in the meaning defined above

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MILKWEED Defined for English Language Learners

milkweed

noun

Definition of milkweed for English Language Learners

: a type of North American plant that has white juice

MILKWEED Defined for Kids

milkweed

noun milk·weed \ ˈmilk-ˌwēd \

Definition of milkweed for Students

: a plant with milky juice and clusters of flowers

Medical Dictionary

milkweed

noun milk·weed \ ˈmilk-ˌwēd \

medical Definition of milkweed

: any of various plants that secrete latex; especially : any plant of the genus Asclepias (family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) including several whose dried roots were formerly used medicinally

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See words that rhyme with milkweed Spanish Central: Translation of milkweed Nglish: Translation of milkweed for Spanish speakers

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milkweed

Definition of milkweed

Recent Examples of milkweed from the Web

Illustration of milkweed

First Known Use of milkweed

MILKWEED Defined for English Language Learners

milkweed

Definition of milkweed for English Language Learners

MILKWEED Defined for Kids

milkweed

Definition of milkweed for Students

Medical Dictionary

milkweed

medical Definition of milkweed

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First Known Use of milkweed

MILKWEED Defined for English Language Learners

milkweed

Definition of milkweed for English Language Learners

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milkweed

Definition of milkweed for Students

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milkweed

medical Definition of milkweed

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