poppy seed

American  

noun

1. seed of the poppy plant, used as an ingredient or topping for breads, rolls, cakes, and cookies.

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poppy seed British  

noun

1. the small grey seeds of one type of poppy flower, used esp on loaves and as a cake filling

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Etymology

Origin of poppy seed

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

The LED recording light is about the size of a poppy seed, so it’s on you to tell people you’re wearing a wire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Many humans are infected when they’re nipped by nymph ticks, a period in their life cycle when they’re roughly the size of a poppy seed and barely visible to the naked eye.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2025

The internal anatomy of a prehistoric creature the size of a poppy seed has been revealed in “astonishing detail”.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2024

“Initial breadiness compacts nicely,” my notes begin, “buttery bottom with slight chew, soft, poppy seed top fun, very faint yet lovely biscuity taste.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2023

In his “Sand Reckoner,” Archimedes first calculated how many grains of sand would fit across a poppy seed, and then how many poppy seeds would span a finger's breadth.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife