switchgrass

noun

switch·​grass ˈswich-ˌgras How to pronounce switchgrass (audio)
: a tall North American panic grass (Panicum virgatum) that is used for hay and forage

Examples of switchgrass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Boosting Biofuel Research teams led by Jonathan Cumming, chair of the department of natural sciences at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, are field testing the feasibility of switchgrass as a cover crop and biofuel ingredient. Robin Roenker, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 The Journal of Environmental Science and Technology examined the life cycle of algae compared to other biofuels, such as corn and switchgrass. Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 There's growing interest in using different bioenergy crops like switchgrass, Lark said, a perennial grass that could store more carbon in its roots while also being harvested for energy. Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 June 2024 The bacteria can work on any type of biomass, including wood chip, switchgrass, and the plant parts that are left behind after a harvest--all contain cellulose, a structural material that comprises much of a plant's mass. Smriti Rao, Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2010 See All Example Sentences for switchgrass

Word History

Etymology

alteration of quitch (grass)

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of switchgrass was in 1840

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Cite this Entry

“Switchgrass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switchgrass. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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