n. 1 any non-woody seed-bearing plant which dies down to the ground after flowering. 2 any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavouring, food, medicine, scent, etc. herb bennet a common yellow-flowered plant, Geum urbanum. herb Christopher a white-flowered baneberry, Actaea spicata. herb Gerard a white-flowered plant, Aegopodium podagraria. herb Paris a plant, Paris quadrifolia, with a single flower and four leaves in a cross shape on an unbranched stem. herb Robert a common cranesbill, Geranium robertianum, with red-stemmed leaves and pink flowers. herb tea an infusion of herbs. herb tobacco a mixture of herbs smoked as a substitute for tobacco. herbiferous adj. herblike adj.
[ ME f. OF erbe f. L herba grass, green crops, herb; herb bennet prob. f. med.L herba benedicta blessed herb (thought of as expelling the Devil) ]