herb

¹

[ urbor, especially British, hurb ]

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. Often the herb. Slang. marijuana.
4. Archaic. herbage.

Herb

²

[ hurb ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Herbert.

herb

/ hɜːb; ɜːrb /

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. See marijuana
   a slang term for marijuana

herb

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈherbˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• herb·less adjective
• herb·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of herb¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of herb¹

C13: from Old French herbe, from Latin herba grass, green plants

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

In one video showing viewers how she makes her chicken, Terri-Ann pulls out a glass jar of Walkerswood Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, a pre-blended mixture of spices and herbs which she says she swears by.

From Eater

I looked to herbal medicine to help relieve my fatigue, and once I figured out what herbs I should be taking and in what amounts, I was absolutely blown away by the results.

From Fortune

Our Beauty Rest Tea, a mixture of CBD and herbs like chamomile and calendula that promote a sense of calm and help promote a nice sense of sleep, was the first product to sell out.

From Essence.com

I’m obsessed with herbs and spices, and love making sauces and condiments.

From Washington Blade

Before setting out, the men consumed special herbs and sacrificed pigs.

From Science News

The flowers and leaves of this herb are used to make medications and the supplement is popularly used for depression.

From The Daily Beast

Wonderful sausage: dense, herb-spangled links that are more lean than fatty, but nevertheless emphatically succulent.

From The Daily Beast

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

From The Daily Beast

And the herb has a huge following: almost 13 percent of Vermont residents report using in the last month.

From The Daily Beast

Later, Herb decides that the story about how he made up that story is just as good.

From The Daily Beast

Roman Pane who accompanied Columbus on his second voyage alludes to another method of using the herb.

From Project Gutenberg

It was supposed by many on its discovery to grow like the engraving given—in form resembling a tree or shrub rather than an herb.

From Project Gutenberg

How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither for the wickedness of them that dwell therein?

From Project Gutenberg

The herb was only to be found in its highest perfection upon the southern coasts of the Mediterranean.

From Project Gutenberg

Rosin-weed has always seemed to me to be a harmless herb, which is shown also by its use among children as chewing gum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• condiment
• dressing
• gravy
• pepper
• salt
• sauce
• spice