chickweed
Americannoun
-
any plant of the genus Stellaria, of the pink family, as S. media, a common Old World weed whose leaves and seeds are relished by birds.
-
any of various allied plants.
noun
-
any of various caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Stellaria, esp S. media, a common garden weed with small white flowers
-
any of various similar and related plants of the genus Cerastium
Etymology
Origin of chickweed
First recorded in 1325–75, chickweed is from Middle English chiken wede. See chick, weed 1
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.
Even more surprising, two temperate plant species from the Northern Hemisphere, annual meadow grass and mouse-ear chickweed, colonised sites faster than any other species.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 1, 2024
Forget the impending dandelions and violets; I’m talking about established winter weeds, whose roots now go deep — interlopers like henbit, chickweed, bittercress and ground ivy.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2021
Common chickweed can transmit viral diseases that damage beets, cucumbers, peas, tomatoes and turnips.
From New York Times ● May 8, 2020
Stinging nettles, mallow, chickweed, purslane, and other “weeds” are nothing more than free food.
From Salon ● Dec. 17, 2013
I want to be as easy to pull out as a single piece of chickweed.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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.
