noun
wort
wurt
Wort (noun) means a plant, especially one used for food or medicine — often the second half of a plant's name, as in "St. John's wort.". Example: “Herbalists have used liverwort for centuries.”
noun
1
A plant, especially one used for food or medicine — often the second half of a plant's name, as in "St. John's wort."
"Two saints are credited with giving St. John's wort its name. One was St. John of Jerusalem, who used the wort (plant) during the crusades to heal his knights' battlefield wounds, and the other was John the Baptist."
— Victoria Zak, A Modern Herbal Tea Garden (1999)
"Herbalists have used liverwort for centuries."
2
The sweet liquid extracted from mashed malt or grain before it's fermented into beer or whisky.
"The brewer checked the wort's sugar level before adding yeast."
"Making the wort with nothing but barley malt and hot water is the standard method in Germany, and in many U.S. microbreweries."
— Harold McGee, Wine, Beer, and Distilled Spirits (2004)
How to use wort
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an old word for a plant/herb, or the unfermented liquid used in brewing beer.
Common pairings
boil the wort
St. John's wort
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Word forms
- Plural
- worts
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The brewer checked the _____'s sugar level before adding yeast.
Etymology
From Old English wyrt, meaning "root, herb, or plant" — the same root as "root" itself and related to "orchard."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for wort
See all rhymes for wort →Frequently asked questions
What does “wort” mean?
The word “wort” means a plant, especially one used for food or medicine — often the second half of a plant's name, as in "St. John's wort.". In plain terms, either an old word for a plant/herb, or the unfermented liquid used in brewing beer.
How do you pronounce “wort”?
“Wort” is pronounced wurt (/wɝt/ in IPA).
How do you use “wort” in a sentence?
Here is “wort” used in a sentence: “Herbalists have used liverwort for centuries.”
What part of speech is “wort”?
“Wort” is a noun.
Where does the word “wort” come from?
The word “wort” comes from Old English. From Old English wyrt, meaning "root, herb, or plant" — the same root as "root" itself and related to "orchard.".
How many meanings does “wort” have?
“Wort” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plant, especially one used for food or medicine — often the second half of a plant's name, as in "St. John's wort.".
