seedbed

noun

seed·bed | \ ˈsēd-ˌbed

How to pronounce seedbed (audio)

\

Definition of seedbed

1 : soil or a bed of soil prepared for planting seed

2 : a place or source of growth or development

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about seedbed

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of seedbed in a Sentence

a social and political environment that would later become a seedbed of the abolition movement that think tank has served as a seedbed for American conservatism since the Cold War era

Recent Examples on the Web

Security experts see Yemen’s war as a potential seedbed for a resurgence of al Qaeda, which remains resilient globally and stronger than its rival Islamic State in countries including Yemen and Somalia. — Sune Engel Rasmussen And Saleh Al-batati, WSJ, "Yemen’s War Opens Way for al Qaeda’s Revival," 22 Nov. 2018 The seedbed of Democratic politicians, built on the expansion of public expenditures and entitlements, wasn’t sprouting a crop needed to sustain ongoing programs. — WSJ, "Wisconsin Barricade Shows Real Revolution," 24 Aug. 2018 Decision 2018 Andrea Mitchell's old neighborhood was an unlikely seedbed for a political revolution decades later. — Andrea Mitchell /, NBC News, "The Bronx of the 1950s could not have imagined Ocasio-Cortez's political victory," 27 June 2018 Autobiography is one of the most important seedbeds for fiction, a way for the novel to illuminate new facets of reality. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "Philip Roth, the Mandarin Joker," 23 May 2018 Which is, after all, the seedbed for science accomplishment. — NBC News, "Sputnik Shook the Nation 60 Years Ago. That Could Happen Again," 4 Oct. 2017 The downy seedbeds are spun into yarn and woven into a special fabric for dancers. — Patrice Hanlon, The Mercury News, "Making fibers and dyes from plants in your garden," 18 May 2017 Fifty year later, New Orleans had lost some ground but remained vibrant, the birthplace of jazz, a seedbed for culture and the arts, a key part of the American military efforts in the World Wars. — Tim Morris, NOLA.com, "This is a New Orleans mayor's race we need to talk about: Opinion," 2 June 2017 As bleak as Afghanistan’s prospects were, the United States could not afford to walk away and allow the country to become a seedbed for extremists again. — Mark Landler, New York Times, "The Afghan War and the Evolution of Obama," 1 Jan. 2017

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about seedbed

Dictionary Entries near seedbed

Statistics for seedbed

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for seedbed

The first known use of seedbed was in 1618

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for seedbed

seedbed

noun

English Language Learners Definition of seedbed

: an area of soil prepared for planting seeds

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

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

intoxicate

to affect and impair by alcohol or a drug

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ