vetch

noun \ ˈvech \

|Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of vetch

: any of a genus (Vicia) of herbaceous twining leguminous plants including some grown for fodder and green manure — compare crown vetch, hairy vetch, milk vetch

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Recent Examples of vetch from the Web

By the time spring unfolds, the later-blooming types are covered in vetch.

— neil sperry, San Antonio Express-News, "Best way to prevent weeds? Keep your grass healthy," 20 Apr. 2018
For the typical home vegetable gardener, the best cover crops are often legumes such as winter peas, fava beans, clovers or vetches.

— ciscoe morris, The Seattle Times, "A bountiful spring vegetable harvest starts this fall," 30 Aug. 2017
Honeybees work the long tassels of vetch flowers readily.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "Readers write: Letters to the editor, August 14, 2017," 14 Aug. 2017
Common choices include grasses and legumes such as hairy vetch and clover.

— irene wanner, The Seattle Times, "UW professor digs in to our problem of soil degradation in ‘Growing a Revolution’," 5 May 2017

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