weeds
/wiːdz/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Plants that grow where they are not wanted, especially in gardens, farms, and paths. Weeds usually spread quickly and can crowd out other plants.
- The weeds took over the flower bed.
- We pulled weeds from the garden.
- Farmers spray weeds to protect crops.
Adinary Nuance
Weeds is more specific than 'plants' and less formal than 'vegetation'. It usually means wild plants growing in the wrong place, often in a garden or field. In everyday English, people say 'weeds' when they want a practical, familiar word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- cỏ dại
- Spanish
- malas hierbas
- Chinese
- 杂草
- Japanese
- 雑草
- Korean
- 잡초
Etymology
Weeds comes from Old English wēod, meaning 'plant' or 'herb'. Over time, it came to mean unwanted wild plants.
Common phrases
pull weedsweed the gardenweed control
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'weeds' the same as 'plants'?
- No. Weeds are plants, but they are unwanted in a certain place.
- Can I use 'weeds' in formal writing?
- Yes, but it is mostly used in everyday, agricultural, and gardening contexts.
- What is the verb form related to 'weeds'?
- The verb is 'weed', meaning to remove unwanted plants.