seed

11 synonyms and 3 antonyms for seed, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A small hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

grain beginning source come

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

kernel pip semen cum sow

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

germ ejaculate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A small hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow.

“She planted the sunflower seeds in early spring.”

kernel pip germ grain beginning source come semen ejaculate cum

2. noun

The origin or starting point of something that later develops.

“That conversation planted the seed of an idea that became his business.”

Opposites

fruit offspring result

3. verb

To plant seeds in an area.

“They seeded the field with wheat.”

sow

How to use seed

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

plant a seed sow seeds top seed seed money

Etymology

From Old English sæd, "seed, that which is sown," from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to sow" — the same root behind "sow" itself.

Full origin of seed →

Frequently asked questions

What does “seed” mean?

The word “seed” means a small hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow. In plain terms, what you plant to grow a new plant — or, more broadly, the small beginning of something bigger.

How do you pronounce “seed”?

“Seed” is pronounced seed (/siːd/ in IPA).

How do you use “seed” in a sentence?

Here is “seed” used in a sentence: “She planted the sunflower seeds in early spring.”

What part of speech is “seed”?

Depending on how it is used, “seed” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “seed” come from?

The word “seed” comes from Old English. From Old English sæd, "seed, that which is sown," from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to sow" — the same root behind "sow" itself.

Is “seed” a common word?

“Seed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “seed” have?

“Seed” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow.

What is the difference between a seed and a bulb?

A seed is a small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow, produced by the flower after pollination. A bulb is a rounded underground storage organ (like an onion or tulip) that already contains a developing plant, so bulbs are not the same as seeds even though both can grow into new plants.

What are common collocations with the word 'seed'?

Common collocations include 'sow a seed', 'plant a seed', 'seed money', 'the seeds of change', and 'go to seed'. Phrases like 'the seeds of doubt' or 'the seeds of success' use seed in its figurative sense of an origin or starting point.

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Nearby words

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