milkweed

noun

milk·​weed ˈmilk-ˌwēd 

: any of various plants that secrete latex

especially : any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers

Illustration of milkweed

Examples of milkweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Try out common milkweed, poke milkweed, or swamp milkweed, which is ideal for poorly-draining gardens. —Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 5 May 2026

Plant monarch-benefiting native milkweed and trade seeds for other plants with fellow visitors. —Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

Female monarchs lay eggs on milkweed plants, considered a monarch's host plant. —Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 22 Apr. 2026

The lush land in and around the farm was known for its flora − summersweet, viburnim, blueberries and milkweed. —Keith Sharon, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing milkweed

• milkweed bug
• milkweed butterfly

Rhymes for milkweed

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede

Kids Definition

milkweed

noun

milk·​weed ˈmil-ˌkwēd 

: any of various herbs with milky juice and flowers usually in dense clusters

Medical Definition

milkweed

noun

milk·​weed ˈmilk-ˌwēd 

: 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