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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

During this project, volunteers will be mulching, weeding and removing invasive species from the Green Space. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024

That applies in Trump's case, too, and is the primary way that the court will weed candidates out. —Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024

So the reading glasses weren't for reading as much as for other daily tasks, like threading a needle, quickly figuring out change at a cash register or weeding and sorting grain on a family farm. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024

Routine tasks such as weeding in the backyard now leave him gasping for air after 40 minutes. —The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024

Gardening Products Recommended by Wirecutter Trying to cut down on weeding time? —Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

Mindful of the heat to come, several workers are already weeding, and Ms. Mason – her daily meditation and yoga done – is ready for a busy day. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Jan. 2024

No insecticides are allowed; all weeding must be done by hand or with a natural insecticide such as neem oil or insecticidal soap, which garden managers have taught some neighbors how to make. —Page Leggett, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024

Projects range from gardening and weeding at Grape Day Park, donating men’s clothing for folks in need, cleaning up the Escondido Bike Trail and downtown areas, cheering for kids at a sports clinic, and signing thank-you posters for firefighters and police. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2024

Noun

The exceptions are invasive and noxious weeds such as goathead, also called puncturevine, and all varieties of bindweed. —Dana Oland, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024

Because legal weed is sometimes more expensive than old-school dealer prices, plenty of people simply stick with the unregulated underground. —Jane C. Hu, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024

Decriminalization of weed Twenty-seven states along with Washington, D.C., have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis The use and possession of medical and/or recreational weed is legal in such states. —Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024

These can be controlled with selective post-emergency weed controls. —Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2024

Plus, Rojas laughed, his parents kept him busy pulling weeds as a child. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

Pollen is released by trees, grasses and weeds, explains Dr. Neil Parikh, allergist and immunologist with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group. —Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024

Located forty miles east of downtown Columbia is a golf club named after the pretty weed taking root in the Carolina Sandhills town of Rembert. —Mike Dojc, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

More artists are working with weed than ever before. —Andrew Deangelo, Forbes, 30 Mar. 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