plural seed or seeds
1
a(1)
: the grains or ripened ovules of plants used for sowing
(2)
: the fertilized ripened ovule of a flowering plant containing an embryo and capable normally of germination to produce a new plant
broadly
: a propagative plant structure (such as a spore or small dry fruit)
c
: the condition or stage of bearing seed
in seed
2
: progeny
3
: a source of development or growth : germ
sowed the seeds of discord
4
: something (such as a tiny particle or a bubble in glass) that resembles a seed in shape or size
5
: a competitor who has been seeded in a tournament
the top seed
seeded; seeding; seeds
1
b
: to furnish with something that causes or stimulates growth or development
c
d
: to supply with nuclei (as of crystallization or condensation)
especially
: to treat (a cloud) with solid particles to convert water droplets into ice crystals in an attempt to produce precipitation
e
: to cover or permeate by or as if by scattering something
seeded [the] sea-lanes with thousands of magnetic mines—
Otto Friedrich
Otto Friedrich2
3
: to extract the seeds from (fruit)
4
a
: to schedule (tournament players or teams) so that superior ones will not meet in early rounds
b
: to rank (a contestant) relative to others in a tournament on the basis of previous record
the top-seeded tennis star
Did you know?
Do you cede or seed control?
Cede means "to yield or grant typically by treaty." Most of the verb senses of seed are concerned with planting seeds (either literal, as of plants, or figuratively, as of ideas). However, the word may also be used to mean "to schedule (tournament players or teams) so that superior ones will not meet in early rounds." If you relinquish or yield something you are ceding it, and if you are organizing the participants in a tournament you are seeding them.
Synonyms
Examples of seed in a Sentence
Noun
a packet of sunflower seeds
He planted the seeds three inches apart.
She raked the grass seed into the soil.
The top seed won the tournament.
Our team is the number one seed.
She is ranked as the third seed.
Verb
We seeded the field with corn.
These plants will seed late in the fall.
After you wash and seed the peppers you can chop them.
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Recent Examples on the WebSouthern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2023
The type called Burgundy Bunny grows to about a foot high with dark red blades and fuzzy seed puffs.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
Then there is Khosla Ventures, which led the seed for Instacart that same year, and then participated in the A, B, and C rounds.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Plant –Directly sow native wildflower and meadow grass seeds before the arrival of rain.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
Collecting seeds and cutting and stacking invasive brush will be on the agenda, organizers said.
—Beacon-News Staff, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
But this year is different, with a healthy Sabally and a top-four seed looking to win its first playoff series.
—Peter Warren, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
The West remains a three-team battle between the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, and all have a better record than the Twins, who need a surge down the stretch to gain the No. 2 seed and a bye into the ALDS.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Make pickling liquid: Stir together distilled water, vinegar, sugar, salt, peppercorns, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, and crushed red pepper, if using, in a medium saucepan.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023
The MacArthur Foundation is leading a group of donors that have pledged $500 million to help the struggling local news industry, hoping to seed outlets that can make up for those that have closed or been hollowed out over the past two decades.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2023
And unlike the Netflix model that keeps originals exclusive to the same platform (Netflix) for the better part of a decade, seeding a show across multiple outlets opens up new revenue streams for a company like Paramount Global.
—Vulture, 6 Sep. 2023
The Dodgers will be seeded No. 2 among the six NL playoff teams, behind the East champion Atlanta Braves and in front of the Central champion, which thanks to a spectacular skid by the Chicago Cubs is almost certain to be the Milwaukee Brewers.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
They are seeded second in the playoffs, with the Las Vegas Aces seeded first.
—Monique Jaques Sara Ziegler, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2023
Over Pedowitz’s 12-year tenure, the network helped seed big series assets for CBS and Warner Bros.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 14 Sep. 2023
Zvonareva and Siegemund were seeded 12th and had won the title in 2020.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2023
The timing of seeding in the spring is also frequently complicated by the need to apply preemergent weed control to the lawn.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2023
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Noun
If desired, rinse seeds, removing all of the stringy squash membrane, and pat dry.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Sep. 2023
The type called Burgundy Bunny grows to about a foot high with dark red blades and fuzzy seed puffs.
—Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
Then there is Khosla Ventures, which led the seed for Instacart that same year, and then participated in the A, B, and C rounds.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Plant –Directly sow native wildflower and meadow grass seeds before the arrival of rain.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
Collecting seeds and cutting and stacking invasive brush will be on the agenda, organizers said.
—Beacon-News Staff, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
But this year is different, with a healthy Sabally and a top-four seed looking to win its first playoff series.
—Peter Warren, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023
The West remains a three-team battle between the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners, and all have a better record than the Twins, who need a surge down the stretch to gain the No. 2 seed and a bye into the ALDS.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
Make pickling liquid: Stir together distilled water, vinegar, sugar, salt, peppercorns, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, and crushed red pepper, if using, in a medium saucepan.
—Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
Verb
Marine-cloud brightening would involve spraying sea salt 1,000 meters into the air to seed the formation of cloud droplets, increasing the reflectivity of low-lying clouds over some parts of the ocean.
—Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023
The MacArthur Foundation is leading a group of donors that have pledged $500 million to help the struggling local news industry, hoping to seed outlets that can make up for those that have closed or been hollowed out over the past two decades.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2023
And unlike the Netflix model that keeps originals exclusive to the same platform (Netflix) for the better part of a decade, seeding a show across multiple outlets opens up new revenue streams for a company like Paramount Global.
—Vulture, 6 Sep. 2023
The Dodgers will be seeded No. 2 among the six NL playoff teams, behind the East champion Atlanta Braves and in front of the Central champion, which thanks to a spectacular skid by the Chicago Cubs is almost certain to be the Milwaukee Brewers.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023
They are seeded second in the playoffs, with the Las Vegas Aces seeded first.
—Monique Jaques Sara Ziegler, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2023
Over Pedowitz’s 12-year tenure, the network helped seed big series assets for CBS and Warner Bros.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 14 Sep. 2023
Zvonareva and Siegemund were seeded 12th and had won the title in 2020.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2023
The timing of seeding in the spring is also frequently complicated by the need to apply preemergent weed control to the lawn.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English sǣd; akin to Old High German sāt seed, Old English sāwan to sow — more at sow
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of seed was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing seed
Cite this Entry
“Seed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seed. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
seed
1 of 2 noun
plural seed or seeds
1
2
: the children of one individual
the seed of David
3
: something from which growth takes place : germ
4
: a competitor who has been seeded in a tournament
the top seed
seed
2 of 2 verb1
: to produce or shed seeds
weeds that seed freely
2
: to plant seeds in : sow
seed a lawn with grass
3
: to treat (a cloud) with solid particles to convert water droplets into ice crystals in an attempt to produce rain
4
: to remove seeds from
5
: to rank (a player or team) in a tournament on the basis of previous record
was seeded second in the state tournament
Medical Definition
seed
1 of 3 noun
plural seed or seeds
1
a
: the fertilized ripened ovule of a flowering plant containing an embryo and capable normally of germination to produce a new plant
broadly
: a propagative plant structure (as a spore or small dry fruit)
2
: a small usually glass and gold or platinum capsule used as a container for a radioactive substance (as radium or radon) to be applied usually interstitially in the treatment of cancer
implantation of radon seeds for bladder cancer
seed
2 of 3 intransitive verb
: to bear or shed seed
1
: to furnish with something that causes or stimulates growth or development
2
3
: to supply with nuclei (as of crystallization or condensation)
seed
3 of 3 adjective1
: selected or used to produce a new crop or stock
seed virus
2
: left or saved for breeding
a seed population
More from Merriam-Webster on seed
Nglish: Translation of seed for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of seed for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seed
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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