weed

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈwēd 

1

a(1)

: a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth

especially : one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants

(2)

: a weedy growth of plants

b

: an aquatic plant

especially : seaweed

c(1)

: tobacco products

(2)

: marijuana

2

a

: an obnoxious growth, thing, or person

b

: something like a weed in detrimental quality

especially : an animal unfit to breed from

weed

2 of 3

verb

weeded; weeding; weeds

intransitive verb

: to remove weeds or something harmful

transitive verb

1

a

: to clear of weeds

weed a garden

b(1)

: to free from something hurtful or offensive

(2)

: to remove the less desirable portions of

2

: to get rid of (something harmful or superfluous)

—often used with out

weed

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: garment

—often used in plural

2

a

: dress worn as a sign of mourning (as by a widow)

—usually used in plural

b

: a band of crape worn on a man's hat as a sign of mourning

—usually used in plural

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• apparel
• attire
• clobber [British slang]
• clothes
• clothing
• costumery
• dress
• duds
• garments
• gear
• habiliment(s)
• habit [archaic]
• rags
• raiment
• rig
• rigging
• threads
• toggery
• togs
• vestiary
• vestments
• vesture
• wear
• wearables

Examples of weed in a Sentence

Verb

We need to weed the garden.

Noun (2)

a poor, miserable beggar clad in tattered weeds

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their fields were covered with a rank growth of weeds, and wild grass. —Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024

Alongside the release, the Highland County Sheriff's Office shared a photo of officers with the forensic and crime scene departments entering the home, which was surrounded by overgrown weeds and trees. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 14 July 2024

Verb

Weekly yard maintenance, whether raking leaves, mowing, weeding, watering plants, or simply sprucing up your flower beds, will keep your curb appeal in top form. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2024

The $195 per month exterior maintenance package includes lawn care, snow removal, common area upkeep, edging, weeding, shrub trimming, mulching of landscape beds, tree trimming, spring start-up and winterization of the sprinkler system, and exterior painting. —Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English wēod weed, herb; akin to Old Saxon wiod weed

Noun (2)

Middle English wede, from Old English wǣd, gewǣde; akin to Old Norse vāth cloth, clothing and perhaps to Lithuanian austi to weave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing weed

• butterfly weed
• dill weed
• grow like a weed
• joe-pye weed
• Klamath weed
• rattlesnake weed
• the weed
• weed out

Kids Definition

weed

1 of 2 noun

ˈwēd 

: a plant that tends to grow thickly where it is not wanted and to choke out more desirable plants

weed

2 of 2 verb

1

: to remove weeds from

weed a garden

2

: to get rid of (something unwanted)

weed out the troublemakers

weeder noun