herbicide

American  

[hur-buh-sahyd, ur-] / ˈhɜr bəˌsaɪd, ˈɜr- /

noun

1. a substance or preparation for killing plants, especially weeds.

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herbicide British  

/ ˈhɜːbɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. a chemical that destroys plants, esp one used to control weeds

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herbicide Scientific  

/ hûr′bĭ-sīd′,ûr′- /

1. A pesticide used to kill weeds. Paraquat is a herbicide.

2. Compare fungicide insecticide rodenticide

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Other Word Forms

• herbicidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of herbicide

First recorded in 1895–1900; herb + -i- + -cide

Example Sentences

Responding to residents who waged a social media campaign against the spraying of herbicides in local creeks, Orange County officials announced they will halt the practice in waterways near Doheny State Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Stroud Brewery is organic, so it does not use pesticides or herbicides, and uses harvested rainwater to flush its toilets.

From BBC

Also included in the order was the same protection to producers of glyphosate, an herbicide used in agricultural production, which relies on phosphorus as a “crucial precursor element” in its manufacturing.

From Salon

Residents concerned about the possible poisoning of Orange County waterways with herbicides have been making their voices heard on Instagram and pressured the county into holding a meeting on the issue Monday night.

From Los Angeles Times

The possible settlement is part of a broader push to secure closure over the claims, which have weighed on the company since it bought Monsanto, the American-maker of the widely used but controversial herbicide.

From BBC

Related Words

• defoliant
• fungicide
• insecticide
• pesticide