weed
weed
Weed (verb) means to pull unwanted plants out of a garden or field. Example: “I need to weed the flower beds before the weekend.”
verb
1
To pull unwanted plants out of a garden or field.
"I need to weed the flower beds before the weekend."
"He knelt on a cushion and weeded between the rows of carrots."
"She spent Saturday morning weeding the vegetable patch."
noun
1
A wild plant growing where it isn't wanted, especially among cultivated ones.
"A single weed pushed up through the crack in the pavement."
"Dandelions are a common weed on suburban lawns."
"The path was overgrown with weeds after months of neglect."
2
Marijuana (informal slang).
"The police officer said the room smelled of weed."
"Some countries have changed their laws about weed in recent years."
"The smell of weed drifted from the open window."
How to use weed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn unwanted wild plant, the act of removing such plants, or, in slang, marijuana.
When to use it
The marijuana sense is casual slang, not used in formal or medical contexts.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
weed the garden
pull weeds
smoke weed
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Word forms
- Plural
- weeds
- Third person singular
- weeds
- Past tense
- weeded
Fill the gap
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I need to _____ the flower beds before the weekend.
Etymology
From Old English wēod ("weed"), of Germanic origin; the marijuana slang sense is a 20th-century extension of the plain "unwanted plant" meaning.
Class of 1900
weed joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Related words
Rhymes for weed
See all rhymes for weed →Frequently asked questions
What does “weed” mean?
The word “weed” means to pull unwanted plants out of a garden or field. In plain terms, an unwanted wild plant, the act of removing such plants, or, in slang, marijuana.
How do you pronounce “weed”?
“Weed” is pronounced weed (/wiːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “weed” in a sentence?
Here is “weed” used in a sentence: “She spent Saturday morning weeding the vegetable patch.”
What part of speech is “weed”?
Depending on how it is used, “weed” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “weed” come from?
The word “weed” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Old English. From Old English wēod ("weed"), of Germanic origin; the marijuana slang sense is a 20th-century extension of the plain "unwanted plant" meaning.
Is “weed” a common word?
“Weed” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “weed” have?
“Weed” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pull unwanted plants out of a garden or field.
What is the difference between a "weed" and a "plant"?
A weed is simply a plant growing where it is not wanted, especially among cultivated ones, so the label depends on the setting rather than the species. The same flower can be a prized plant in one garden and a weed in another.
What is the difference between "weeding" and "mowing"?
Weeding means pulling unwanted plants out, usually by the roots, so they do not return, while mowing means cutting grass or plants down to an even height without removing them. Weeding targets specific unwanted plants, whereas mowing trims an area evenly.
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