weed

 
Pronunciation: /wiːd/

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

[with object]
  • 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

Derivatives

weeder

noun

weedless

adjective

Origin:

Old English wēod (noun), wēodian (verb), of unknown origin; related to Dutch wieden (verb)