sedge
Americannoun
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any rushlike or grasslike plant of the sedge family, predominantly of the genus Carex, most species of which grow in wetlands.
noun
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any grasslike cyperaceous plant of the genus Carex, typically growing on wet ground and having rhizomes, triangular stems, and minute flowers in spikelets
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any other plant of the family Cyperaceae
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sedge
First recorded before 900; Middle English segge, Old English secg; akin to saw 1; presumably so named from its sawlike edges
Explanation
A sedge is a grassy plant. Sedges grow all over the world, from the Arctic to New Jersey, with the highest concentrations found in wetlands. You can plant sedge in your yard, but it’ll look kind of wild. The thing that all sedges have in common is a love of moisture, which is why they're often found in wetlands. Many sedges are fine with poor soil and limited sun as well, which is why some landscapers and gardeners are fans. A sedge looks like a type of tall, wide grass with spiky flowers. The fancy Latin name for sedges is Cyperaceae. Claim to fame: the original Egyptian papyrus was made from a type of sedge.
Vocabulary lists containing sedge
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
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"The Wife of Bath's Tale," Vocabulary from the narrative poem
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Backyards full of wispy sedge grass, verdant moss, and wildflower meadows are helping bring gardens and green spaces back to life.
From National Geographic • Jul. 20, 2023
Upon reaching adulthood, they must climb out of the water, grabbing onto the stem of a sedge or other nearby plant.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 11, 2022
Even so, the decision to cancel a festival that celebrates the natural wonder of sedge warblers, ospreys, redwings and wigeons that are able to take to the skies carbon-free has left many fans crestfallen.
From Washington Post • Nov. 24, 2021
In the 1990s, the shore was covered with sedge and the lake bottom was strewn with the rounded shells of native mollusks.
From Science Magazine • Oct. 20, 2021
The hill is grassy, but the site of the Confederate stand is toward the back of the rise, under the cover of broom sedge and pine shrubs.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
