I. ˈwēd noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wed, weed, from Old English wēod herb, grass, weed; akin to Old Saxon wiod weed, Middle Dutch wiet, Old High German wiota fern
1.
a.
(1) : an introduced plant growing in ground that is or has been in cultivation usually to the detriment of the crop or to the disfigurement of the place : an economically useless plant : a plant of unsightly appearance ; especially : one of wild or rank growth
(2) : a tree or shrub of low economic value that tends to grow freely and by its presence to exclude or retard more valuable plants
gray birch is a common weed species in much of New England
(3) : a form of vegetable life of exuberant growth and injurious effect (as various molds or bacteria frequently contaminating cultures)
(4) : a forb in rangeland
b. : wild growth usually in the nature of rank grass or undergrowth
the land must be cleared of weed — Emil Lengyel
2. : a marine or freshwater plant : seaweed
3. : an obnoxious growth, thing, or person
militarism is a tough weed to kill — F.S.Oliver
4.
a. : tobacco ; especially : tobacco prepared for use (as a cigar or cigarette)
made the students promise to shun both weed and wine — Time
b. slang : marijuana
5.
a. : something of little value ; specifically : an animal of poor conformation, lacking in stamina, and unfit to breed from
b. : an animal that is detrimental especially in preoccupying habitats that might otherwise harbor more desirable forms
carp forms one of the worst weed species in some areas
or in damaging the habitat value of the land on which they live
uncontrolled deer herds may become serious weeds
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English weden, from Old English wēodian; akin to Old Saxon wiodōn to weed, Middle Dutch wieden, Old English wēod weed
intransitive verb
: to remove weeds or something harmful
transitive verb
1.
a. : to free from noxious plants : clear of weeds
weed a garden
b.
(1) : to free from something that is hurtful or offensive
(2) : to diminish by removing the less desirable portions of : cull
before beginning to classify and catalog an old library, weed the collection — Susan Akers
weed a stable of horses
2.
a. : to remove on account of being a weed
weed crabgrass from the lawn
b. : to remove on account of being harmful or superfluous : get rid of — often used with out
weed out impractical schemes not worth further appraisal — R.P.Cooke
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English wede, from Old English wǣd, gewǣde; akin to Old Saxon wād, giwādi clothing, Old High German wāt, giwāti, Old Norse vāth cloth, clothing, Lithuanian austi to weave
1.
a. : an article of clothing : garment ; especially : one that is indicative of a person's occupation, situation, or position — often used in plural
b. : something that resembles an outer garment : flesh
2. : an article or style of dress usually black worn as a sign of mourning: as
a. : a widow's black veils — usually used in plural
she had abandoned the cocoon of crape but still wore weeds — Arnold Bennett
b. : a band of crape or heavy black cloth worn on a man's hat as a sign of mourning — usually used in plural
a coachman and a footman both with weeds on their hats — Kate D. Wiggin
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening from obsolete Scots wedenonfa' ague, literally, attack of madness, from Old English wēde, wēden- mad, frenzied + Scots onfa' attack, from Middle English onfall, from Old English onfeall, from on + feall fall; akin to Old English wōd mad — more at wood , on , fall
1. : a sudden illness or relapse often attended with fever
2.
a. : lymphangitis in the horse accompanied by fever and marked by swelling of the legs
b. : mastitis especially of sheep