seed
English meaning: Seed
Definition
A fertilized and ripened ovule, containing an embryonic plant.
Example
“She pushed each seed gently into the soft, dark soil.”
Another example: “Their early conversation planted the seed of a lasting friendship.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral; a noun for the reproductive unit of a plant, figuratively a source or origin ('the seeds of doubt'), or a ranking in sports ('the top seed'); also a verb meaning to plant or to remove seeds. Common in gardening, sport and figurative speech.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'sǣd', from Proto-Germanic 'sēdiz' (that which is sown); in use since before the 12th century.
Synonyms
- source
- ejaculate
- sow
- seminal fluid
- seeded player
- germ
- semen
- sough
Related Words
- germination
- germinate
- dormancy
- italics
- dispersal
- sown
- pods
- seeds
- seeded
- bye
Common Collocations
- plant a seed
- sow the seeds
- seed money
- top seed
- sunflower seeds
- go to seed
Word Forms
seed (n & v); seeds (pl); seeded; seeding
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B