■ noun
1》 a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another such plant.
↘a quantity of these.
2》 the beginning of a feeling, process, or condition.
3》 any of a number of stronger competitors in a sports tournament who have been assigned a position in an ordered list to ensure they do not play each other in the early rounds.
4》 archaic a man's semen.
↘(chiefly in biblical use) offspring or descendants.
5》 a small crystal introduced into a liquid to act as a nucleus for crystallization.
6》 a small container of radioactive material placed in body tissue during radiotherapy.
■ verb
1》 sow (land) with ~s.
↘sow (~).
2》 produce or drop ~s.
3》 remove the ~s from.
4》 initiate the development or growth of.
↘place a crystalline substance in (a cloud or solution) in order to cause condensation or crystallization.
5》 give (a competitor) the status of ~ in a tournament.
Phrases
go (or run ) to ~
1》 cease flowering as the ~s develop.
2》 deteriorate in condition or strength.
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~less adjective
Origin
OE sd , of Gmc origin; related to sow 1 .