herbaceous

[hur-bey-shuh s, ur-]

See more synonyms for herbaceous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of an herb; herblike.
(of plants or plant parts)
1. not woody.
2. having the texture, color, etc., of an ordinary foliage leaf.

Origin of herbaceous

1640–50; < Latin herbāceus grassy, like grass, equivalent to herb(a) grass, herbs + -āceus -aceous

Related formsher·ba·ceous·ly, adverbsem·i·her·ba·ceous, adjectiveun·her·ba·ceous, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for herbaceous

fragrant, seasoned, piquant, appetizing, hot, aromatic, tangy, peppery, tasty, fiery, sweet, savory, fresh, distinctive, zesty, decorative, ambrosial, flavorsome, keen, poignant

Examples from the Web for herbaceous

Contemporary Examples of herbaceous

It is not overtly hoppy, and the herbaceous, citrusy notes replace any bitter ones.
Wine Snobs, There’s a Beer for You
Jordan Salcito
April 5, 2014
They are vinous, herbaceous, and reminiscent of sourdough yeast starter.
Wine Snobs, There’s a Beer for You
Jordan Salcito
April 5, 2014
We sampled dozens of olive varieties, ranging from light and briny to cured and herbaceous.
Into the Heart of Turkey
Sophie Menin
September 28, 2010

Historical Examples of herbaceous

Like the former, it was a herbaceous plant, but of a very different appearance.
The Quadroon
Mayne Reid
"Chum, you bounder," I shout, as he is about to wade through the herbaceous border.
Happy Days
Alan Alexander Milne
And their herbaceous border, even now, is a blaze of colour.
Christmas Roses and Other Stories
Anne Douglas Sedgwick
He instances Ricinus, which is an herbaceous annual with us, but a tree in other countries31.
Herbals, Their Origin and Evolution
Agnes Arber
A great variety prevails there of herbaceous or frutescent plants.
The Desert World
Arthur Mangin

British Dictionary definitions for herbaceous

herbaceous

adjective

designating or relating to plants or plant parts that are fleshy as opposed to woodya herbaceous plant
(of petals and sepals) green and leaflike
of or relating to herbs

Derived Formsherbaceously, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for herbaceous

adj.

1640s, from Latin herbaceus, from herba (see herb).

herbaceous in Science

herb

[ûrb]

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.

Related formsherbaceous adjective (hûr-bā′shəs, ûr-)