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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Jon Darby has now been teaching foraging at Horn Farm for 15 years, leading monthly two-hour foraging walks that emphasize ethical foraging of seasonally available staples, like chickweed and rose hips.

From Salon • May 30, 2024

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

As we walked, he told me about the rewards of experimenting with spruce tips in the kitchen, and the abundant chickweed — whose name is tragic to him.

From Washington Post • Jul. 8, 2022

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

On a late June day when the cliff side was green and yellow with chickweed, Chup caught a passing starling on the wing.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George