seed
seed
Seed (noun) means a small hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow. Example: “She planted the sunflower seeds in early spring.”
noun
1
A small hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow.
"She planted the sunflower seeds in early spring."
"Squirrels bury seeds and nuts for the winter."
"Birds were pecking at the seed we had scattered on the lawn."
2
The origin or starting point of something that later develops.
"That conversation planted the seed of an idea that became his business."
"A small act of kindness can be the seed of a lasting friendship."
"The seed of the argument was a simple misunderstanding."
3
A competitor's ranked starting position in a tournament.
"She entered the tournament as the third seed."
"As the top seed, she was expected to reach the final."
"The lowest seed beat the favourite in the first round."
verb
1
To plant seeds in an area.
"They seeded the field with wheat."
"Farmers seed the hillside in autumn so the grass grows back."
"We seeded the bare patch of lawn and watered it daily."
2
To assign a rank or starting position to a competitor in a tournament.
"He was seeded second going into the championship."
"The organisers seeded the best players so they would not meet early."
"She will be seeded first at this year's tennis tournament."
How to use seed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat you plant to grow a new plant — or, more broadly, the small beginning of something bigger.
Common pairings
plant a seed
sow seeds
top seed
seed money
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Word forms
- Plural
- seeds
- Third person singular
- seeds
- Past tense
- seeded
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She planted the sunflower _____ in early spring.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for seed
See all rhymes for 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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