seaweed

[ see-weed ]

noun

1. any plant or plants growing in the ocean.
2. a marine alga.

seaweed

/ ˈsiːˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of numerous multicellular marine algae that grow on the seashore, in salt marshes, in brackish water, or submerged in the ocean
2. any of certain other plants that grow in or close to the sea

seaweed

/ sē′wēd′ /

1. Any of various red, green, or brown algae that live in ocean waters. Some species of seaweed are free-floating, while others are attached to the ocean bottom. Seaweed range from the size of a pinhead to having large fronds (such as those of many kelps) that can be as much as 30.5 m (100 ft) in length. Certain species are used for food (such as nori) and fertilizer, and others are harvested for carrageenan and other substances used as thickening, stabilizing, emulsifying, or suspending agents in industrial, pharmaceutical, and food products. Seaweed is also a natural source of the element iodine, which is otherwise found only in very small amounts.
2. See more at brown alga

Word History and Origins

Origin of seaweed¹

First recorded in 1570–80; sea + weed ¹

Example Sentences

You may not often encounter “burgeoning” and “kelp” in the same sentence, but the seaweed is truly having a moment.

From Outside Online

He raises oysters, clams, mussels — and kelp, that brown, slippery seaweed that looks like packing tape.

From Freakonomics

This model has diversified from nets to include seaweed farming in the Philippines.

From Nautilus

Carrageenan extracted from seaweed is used in products all over the world, but like so many other supply chains, this one has been unfair to local communities.

From Nautilus

Kayanda recently recruited 25 women on Pemba, an island off the Tanzanian coast, to start a production plant for beauty products made from seaweed.

From Ozy

On the other hand, he found my wasabi seaweed a bit off-putting.

From The Daily Beast

Rich in dietary fiber and calcium, hijiki is a black-colored seaweed that grows wild on the Japanese coastline.

From The Daily Beast

Poudre de Neptune (dill, fennel, star anise, seaweed) is by far the most-used seasoning in my kitchen.

From The Daily Beast

The smell of wild thyme mingling with the salt of the low-tide seaweed conveyed stimulating fragrance.

From Project Gutenberg

They had dug some clams at the low tide in the forenoon and put them away, covered with wet seaweed.

From Project Gutenberg

The uniform level of the seaweed marked the line of the water at the height of the tide, and the limit of the sea in calm weather.

From Project Gutenberg

Some, covered with a hairy and glutinous seaweed, seemed like large green moles boring a way into the rock.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you see that orange-and-black striped blazer—there by the seaweed: he's pointing; that's Philip Lacey.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• algae