noun A2 Elementary Common

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

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."

The origin or starting point of something that later develops.

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

A competitor's ranked starting position in a tournament.

"She entered the tournament as the third seed."

verb

To plant seeds in an area.

"They seeded the field with wheat."

To assign a rank or starting position to a competitor in a tournament.

"He was seeded second going into the championship."

How to use seed

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

seeded past tense, seeds plural, Seeds plural, seeds singular

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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.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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kernel pip germ grain beginning source

Related words

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Rhymes for seed

feed reed deed need heed weed peed bleed breed speed creed greed

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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