pigweed

American  

[pig-weed] / ˈpɪgˌwid /

noun

1. any goosefoot of the genus Chenopodium, especially C. album.

2. any of certain amaranths, as Amaranthus retroflexus.

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pigweed British  

/ ˈpɪɡˌwiːd /

noun

1. Also called: redroot.  any of several coarse North American amaranthaceous weeds of the genus Amaranthus, esp A. retroflexus, having hairy leaves and green flowers

2. a US name for fat hen

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Etymology

Origin of pigweed

First recorded in 1795–1805; pig ¹ + weed ¹

Example Sentences

She spots amaranth and caresses the diamond-shaped green leaves, commonly known as pigweed in English.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2024

But as the pigweed spread eastward, the plants began competing with cotton in the South, emerging as a serious threat to the crops by the mid-1990s.

From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2021

The aggressive pigweed species can grow as tall as 7 feet and produce hundreds of thousands of seeds.

From Washington Times • Nov. 11, 2018

They say their fields are being overrun by pigweed, which is now resistant to other herbicides.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2018

Rain fell in the barnyard and ran in crooked courses down into the lane where thistles and pigweed grew.

From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White