milkweed

noun

milk·weed | \ ˈmilk-ˌwēd

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

Examples of milkweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Iowa Newton: Biofuel plants in the state are adding milkweed and other native plants to their properties so monarch butterflies can fuel up during the annual migration. — USA TODAY, "Robot hostesses, veggie booze, ‘civil death’: News from around our 50 states," 4 July 2019 When rainy season arrives, many grasslands become coated with wildflowers such as yarrow, hyssop, and milkweed. — Christina Nunez, National Geographic, "Grasslands, explained," 22 June 2019 Unfortunately, milkweed is a little more complicated to grow from seed. — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, "The Hoosier Gardener: Some plants hard to find this spring," 13 June 2019 The researchers focused on the plants monarch caterpillars exclusively eat: milkweeds. — Anna Groves, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "They're beautiful — and in danger. Now, a huge effort focuses on saving monarch butterflies," 13 July 2018 Monarchs rely on one group of plants on which to lay their eggs: the milkweeds. — Molly Marquand, Good Housekeeping, "8 Weeds You Should Actually Let Grow In Your Yard," 28 July 2016 The Canadian Coast Guard tried milkweed garb and liked it. — Calvin Woodward, Fox News, "A makeover for milkweed, for the sake of butterflies," 31 July 2018 Anything in the Asclepias genus will feed the monarch’s caterpillars, which badly need the food in the large, milkweed-depauperate migration states of the Midwest. — Molly Marquand, Good Housekeeping, "15 Native Wildflowers Every Gardener Should Plant," 5 May 2017 The garden of milkweed, coneflowers and other wildflowers has to be weeded and watered. — Jane Ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Frustrated environmental-committee members resign. Now Hales Corners fruit and nut orchard is at risk," 18 June 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.

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Last Updated

16 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for milkweed

The first known use of milkweed was circa 1592

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More Definitions for milkweed

milkweed

noun

English Language Learners Definition of milkweed

: a type of North American plant that has white juice

See the full definition for milkweed in the English Language Learners Dictionary

milkweed

noun

milk·weed | \ ˈmilk-ˌwēd

Kids Definition of milkweed

: a plant with milky juice and clusters of flowers

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