— seedless , adj. — seedlessness , n. — seedlike , adj.
/seed/ , n. , pl. seeds , ( esp. collectively ) seed , v. , adj.
n.
1. the fertilized, matured ovule of a flowering plant, containing an embryo or rudimentary plant.
2. any propagative part of a plant, including tubers, bulbs, etc., esp. as preserved for growing a new crop.
3. such parts collectively.
4. any similar small part or fruit.
5. Dial. pit 2 .
6. the germ or propagative source of anything: the seeds of discord.
7. offspring; progeny.
8. birth: not of mortal seed.
9. sperm; semen.
10. the ovum or ova of certain animals, as the lobster and the silkworm moth.
11. See seed oyster .
12. a small air bubble in a glass piece, caused by defective firing.
13. Crystall. , Chem. a small crystal added to a solution to promote crystallization.
14. Tennis. a player who has been seeded in a tournament.
15. go or run to seed ,
a. (of the flower of a plant) to pass to the stage of yielding seed.
b. to lose vigor, power, or prosperity; deteriorate: He has gone to seed in the last few years.
16. in seed ,
a. (of certain plants) in the state of bearing ripened seeds.
b. (of a field, a lawn, etc.) sown with seed.
v.t.
17. to sow (a field, lawn, etc.) with seed.
18. to sow or scatter (seed).
19. to sow or scatter (clouds) with crystals or particles of silver iodide, solid carbon dioxide, etc., to induce precipitation.
20. to place, introduce, etc., esp. in the hope of increase or profit: to seed a lake with trout.
21. to sprinkle on (a surface, substance, etc.) in the manner of seed: to seed an icy bridge with chemicals.
22. to remove the seeds from (fruit).
23. Sports.
a. to arrange (the drawings for positions in a tournament) so that ranking players or teams will not meet in the early rounds of play.
b. to distribute (ranking players or teams) in this manner.
24. to develop or stimulate (a business, project, etc.), esp. by providing operating capital.
v.i.
25. to sow seed.
26. to produce or shed seed.
adj.
27. of or producing seed; used for seed: a seed potato.
28. being or providing capital for the initial stages of a new business or other enterprise: The research project began with seed donations from the investors.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME sede, side, seed ( e ), OE sed, saed; c. G Saat, ON sath, Goth -seths; (v.) ME seden to produce seeds, deriv. of the n.; akin to sow 1 ]
Syn. 7. descendants, heirs, posterity, issue, scions.