weed

noun

• 1a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants: keep the seedlings clear of weeds
• [mass noun] any wild plant growing in salt or fresh water: at the far side of the beach the rocks began, some humped with brown weed
• [mass noun] informal cannabis.
• (the weed) informal tobacco: smokers are advised to eat more fruit, as the weed can increase the risk of gastric cancer

• 2British informal a contemptibly feeble person: he thought party games were for weeds and wets

• 3 informal a leggy, loosely built horse: my tiny bay weed could jump like a stag

verb

• 1remove unwanted plants from (an area of ground):I was weeding a flower bed

• 2 (weed someone/thing out) remove an inferior or unwanted component of a group or collection:we must raise the level of research and weed out the poorest work