I. weed 1 /wiːd/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: weod ]
1 . [countable] a wild plant growing where it is not wanted that prevents crops or garden flowers from growing properly:
the constant battle against weeds
2 . [uncountable] a plant without flowers that grows on water in a large green floating mass ⇨ seaweed
3 . [countable] British English informal someone who is weak:
Nigel’s such a weed, isn’t he?
4 . like weeds in large numbers:
Cars clogged the roads like weeds.
5 . the weed informal cigarettes or tobacco
6 . [uncountable] old-fashioned ↑ cannabis
7 . (widow’s) weeds old use black clothes worn by a woman whose husband has died
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ plant a living thing that has leaves and roots and grows in earth, especially one that is smaller than a tree:
Don’t forget to water the plants.
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Plants grow towards the sun.
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Botanists examined plant species from around the world.
▪ herb a small plant that is used to improve the taste of food, or to make medicine:
Sprinkle the dish with chopped fresh herbs.
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medicinal herbs (=used as medicine)
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The shop sells an interesting range of herbs and spices.
▪ weed a wild plant growing where it is not wanted that prevents crops or garden flowers from growing properly:
She was pulling up weeds in her garden.
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Herbicides can be used to prevent and control weeds.
▪ bulb a root shaped like a ball that grows into a flower or plant:
She planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs.
▪ shrub a small bush with several woody stems:
flowering shrubs
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Rosemary is an evergreen shrub.
II. weed 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
to remove unwanted plants from a garden or other place
—weeding noun [uncountable]
weed somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb
to get rid of people or things that are not very good:
The research will help governments to weed out ineffective aid schemes.