seed
/siːd/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A seed is the small part of a plant that can grow into a new plant. It is usually found inside fruit, flowers, or cones.
- Plant the seeds in spring.
- The tomato has many seeds.
- Birds eat the seeds.
- 2.
A seed is a small thing used to begin growth, development, or change. It can also mean an idea or feeling that starts something later.
- That talk planted the seed of doubt.
- The project was just a seed at first.
- Her idea became the seed of a new company.
verb
To seed something means to plant seeds in it. It can also mean to spread or start an idea, feeling, or plan.
- They seeded the lawn last week.
- The rumor was seeded online.
- We seeded the discussion with a few questions.
Adinary Nuance
Seed is smaller and more exact than plant or grain. Use seed for the part that grows into a new plant, or for the first starting point of an idea. In writing, seed often sounds more vivid than beginning or start.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hạt giống
- Spanish
- semilla
- Chinese
- 种子
- Japanese
- 種
- Korean
- 씨앗
Etymology
Old English sǣd meant “seed” or “offspring.” It comes from a Germanic root, and the basic meaning has stayed close to that original idea.
Common phrases
seed of doubtseed moneyseed a lawnplant a seed
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is seed a countable noun?
- Yes, usually. You can say one seed, many seeds.
- What is the difference between seed and grain?
- A seed can grow into a plant. Grain usually means a small food crop like rice or wheat.
- Can seed mean an idea?
- Yes. It often means the first small start of an idea or feeling.
- Is seed formal or informal?
- It is common in both speech and writing.