sedge
Americannoun
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any rushlike or grasslike plant of the sedge family, predominantly of the genus Carex, most species of which grow in wetlands.
noun
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any grasslike cyperaceous plant of the genus Carex, typically growing on wet ground and having rhizomes, triangular stems, and minute flowers in spikelets
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any other plant of the family Cyperaceae
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of sedge
First recorded before 900; Middle English segge, Old English secg; akin to saw 1; presumably so named from its sawlike edges
Explanation
A sedge is a grassy plant. Sedges grow all over the world, from the Arctic to New Jersey, with the highest concentrations found in wetlands. You can plant sedge in your yard, but it’ll look kind of wild. The thing that all sedges have in common is a love of moisture, which is why they're often found in wetlands. Many sedges are fine with poor soil and limited sun as well, which is why some landscapers and gardeners are fans. A sedge looks like a type of tall, wide grass with spiky flowers. The fancy Latin name for sedges is Cyperaceae. Claim to fame: the original Egyptian papyrus was made from a type of sedge.
Vocabulary lists containing sedge
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
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"The Wife of Bath's Tale," Vocabulary from the narrative poem
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sedge and moss lawns are emerging lawn alternatives for similar eco-friendly reasons to clover lawns; they require less mowing and watering.
From National Geographic • Jul. 20, 2023
He recommends New Zealand sedge, which is a rusty color, and some of the pennisetum Sedge for sunnier areas.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 16, 2023
The survey also found 10 new plants never before recorded, such as the Saltmarsh Sedge, an arctic plant found in Scottish saltmarshes.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2023
John Wnek, the school’s supervisor, said the population of terrapins on Sedge Island near the Barnegat Inlet has been declining, from about 100 in 2002 to the low 70s now.
From Washington Times • May 4, 2015
Mrs. Sedge was a stolid matron, whose outlook on life had reached the dregs of pessimism.
From Adventures of Bindle by Jenkins, Herbert George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
