herb

¹ American  

[urb, hurb] / ɜrb, hɜrb /

noun

1. a flowering plant whose stem above ground does not become woody.

2. such a plant when valued for its medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like.

3. Slang. Often the herb. marijuana.

4. Archaic. herbage.

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idioms

1. give it the herbs, to use full power, especially in accelerating a car.

Herb ² American  

[hurb] / hɜrb /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Herbert.

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herb British  

/ ɜːrb, hɜːb /

noun

1. a seed-bearing plant whose aerial parts do not persist above ground at the end of the growing season; herbaceous plant

2. 1. any of various usually aromatic plants, such as parsley, rue, and rosemary, that are used in cookery and medicine

   2. ( as modifier )

      a herb garden

3. a slang term for marijuana

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herb Scientific  

/ ûrb /

1. A flowering plant whose stem does not produce woody tissue and generally dies back at the end of each growing season. Both grasses and forbs are herbs.

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Other Word Forms

• herbless adjective
• herblike adjective

Etymology

Origin of herb

1250–1300; Middle English herbe < Old French erbe, herbe < Latin herba

Example Sentences

Employees put together a proposal for new mac-and-cheese products, including ones using premium cheeses like Gruyere, Gouda and Parmesan, and herbs and spices.

From The Wall Street Journal

She can be seen in the film with spending time with her pet hawk and picking herbs for medical concoctions.

From BBC

Even the tiniest bits — the corner of a cheese wedge, the last few sprigs of herbs — can elevate a dish if treated with a little care.

From Salon

The new breed of nightcaps generally combines minerals, vitamins and herbs, offered in flavors such as hot cocoa, mixed berry and vanilla latte.

From The Wall Street Journal

You can scale up if you like: some grated cheese, a scatter of fresh herbs, maybe crispy pork.

From Salon

Related Words

• flower
• grass
• seedling
• shrub
• tree
• vine
• weed