diquat

[dahy-kwot]

noun

1. a yellow crystalline substance, C 12 H 12 Br 2 N 2 , used as a selective postemergence herbicide to control weeds on noncrop land and for aquatic weed control.

Word History and Origins

Origin of diquat¹

First recorded in 1955–60; di- ¹ + quat(ernary)

Example Sentences

Wilde suspects one local source might be an herbicide, diquat dibromide, that is used to kill hydrilla.

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Duckweed and watermeal are just two types of weeds that most pond owners seek to control with chemicals such as diquat.

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Furthermore, diquat doesn’t work on watermeal.

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After the use of the chemical diquat, the duckweed turns brown and sinks to the bottom, which can nourish unkilled weeds, effectively making matters worse.

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