chickweed

American  

[chik-weed] / ˈtʃɪkˌwid /

noun

1. 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.

2. any of various allied plants.

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chickweed British  

/ ˈtʃɪkˌwiːd /

noun

1. any of various caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Stellaria, esp S. media, a common garden weed with small white flowers

2. any of various similar and related plants of the genus Cerastium

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Etymology

Origin of chickweed

First recorded in 1325–75, chickweed is from Middle English chiken wede. See chick, weed ¹

Example Sentences

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

Another spring favorite, chickweed is a quick-growing weed with small oval leaves and white star-shaped flowers.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2021

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

Winter weeds, such as chickweed, are deeply entrenched and spreading.

From Washington Post • Jan. 5, 2021

I would hear them every morning when I passed the railroad car and paused over the chickweed and bull thistle growing where Tyler had buried the rifle.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover