noun

charlock

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Charlock (noun) means a yellow-flowered weed related to mustard that commonly grows in fields of grain. Example: “Charlock had taken over the edge of the wheat field.”

noun

A yellow-flowered weed related to mustard that commonly grows in fields of grain.

"Charlock had taken over the edge of the wheat field."

"Farmers work hard to keep charlock from choking their crops."

"The hedgerow was speckled with the bright yellow flowers of charlock."

Examples of charlock in a sentence →

How to use charlock

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA common yellow-flowered weed, closely related to mustard, that grows in fields.

When to use it

A term used mainly in farming and botany rather than everyday conversation.

Memory tip

You will most often meet charlock in gardening or farming writing, where it's usually just called wild mustard.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

charlock in the field patch of charlock spray for charlock jointed charlock

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “charlock” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ had taken over the edge of the wheat field.

Etymology

Charlock comes from the Middle English charlok or cherlok, which in turn came from Old English forms such as cyrlic. Beyond that, its origin is not known.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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wild mustard field mustard charlock mustard

Rhymes for charlock

warlock

See all rhymes for charlock →

Frequently asked questions

What is charlock?

It is a yellow-flowered weed related to mustard that grows in grain fields.

Is charlock the same as wild mustard?

Yes, wild mustard is one of the common names used for charlock.

Why is charlock considered a weed?

It spreads readily through fields of grain, where it competes with the crops farmers are growing.

What is the meaning of charlock?

"charlock" (noun) means a yellow-flowered weed related to mustard that commonly grows in fields of grain.