seed
the fertilized, matured ovule of a flowering plant, containing an embryo or rudimentary plant.
any propagative part of a plant, including tubers, bulbs, etc., especially as preserved for growing a new crop.
such parts collectively.
any similar small part or fruit.
Dialect. pit2.
the germ or propagative source of anything: the seeds of discord.
offspring; progeny.
birth: not of mortal seed.
sperm; semen.
the ovum or ova of certain animals, as the lobster and the silkworm moth.
a small air bubble in a glass piece, caused by defective firing.
Crystallography, Chemistry. a small crystal added to a solution to promote crystallization.
Tennis. a player who has been seeded in a tournament.
to sow (a field, lawn, etc.) with seed.
to sow or scatter (seed).
to sow or scatter (clouds) with crystals or particles of silver iodide, solid carbon dioxide, etc., to induce precipitation.
to place, introduce, etc., especially in the hope of increase or profit: to seed a lake with trout.
to sprinkle on (a surface, substance, etc.) in the manner of seed: to seed an icy bridge with chemicals.
to remove the seeds from (fruit).
Sports.
to arrange (the drawings for positions in a tournament) so that ranking players or teams will not meet in the early rounds of play.
to distribute (ranking players or teams) in this manner.
to develop or stimulate (a business, project, etc.), especially by providing operating capital.
to sow seed.
to produce or shed seed.
of or producing seed; used for seed: a seed potato.
being or providing capital for the initial stages of a new business or other enterprise: The research project began with seed donations from the investors.
Idioms about seed
go / run to seed,
(of the flower of a plant) to pass to the stage of yielding seed.
to lose vigor, power, or prosperity; deteriorate: He has gone to seed in the last few years.
in seed,
(of certain plants) in the state of bearing ripened seeds.
(of a field, a lawn, etc.) sown with seed.
Origin of seed
1Other words for seed
| 7 | descendants, heirs, posterity, issue, scions |
Other words from seed
- seedless, adjective
- seed·less·ness, noun
- seedlike, adjective
- de·seed, verb (used with object)
- o·ver·seed, verb
- re·seed, verb
- un·der·seed·ed, adjective
- un·seed·ed, adjective
- un·seed·ing, adjective
- well-seeded, adjective
Words that may be confused with seed
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use seed in a sentence
In one ad, he criticized federal funding for genetic research on grapes because “we already have seedless.”
Conservative Southern Democrat John Barrow Hangs on in Hostile Territory | Luke Kerr-Dineen | November 18, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 1880 they bore half a bushel of fruit, and the new seedless oranges were talked of throughout Southern California.
Stories of California | Ella M. SextonAt this day thousands of acres of seedless oranges are in full bearing and no one buys the old kinds.
Stories of California | Ella M. SextonAdelaide next measured out a fourth of a pound of seedless raisins.
A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl | Amy WatermanAlthough some fruits are seedless, they generally contain the seeds of the plants or trees that produce them.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 | Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
California oranges, which have a bright-yellow or orange skin, are seedless and are known as navel oranges.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 | Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
British Dictionary definitions for seed (1 of 2)
/ (siːd) /
botany a mature fertilized plant ovule, consisting of an embryo and its food store surrounded by a protective seed coat (testa): Related adjective: seminal
the small hard seedlike fruit of plants such as wheat
(loosely) any propagative part of a plant, such as a tuber, spore, or bulb
such parts collectively
the source, beginning, or germ of anything: the seeds of revolt
mainly Bible offspring or descendants: the seed of Abraham
sport a seeded player
the egg cell or cells of the lobster and certain other animals
See seed oyster
chem a small crystal added to a supersaturated solution or supercooled liquid to induce crystallization
go to seed or run to seed
(of plants) to produce and shed seeds
to lose vigour, usefulness, etc
to plant (seeds, grain, etc) in (soil): we seeded this field with oats
(intr) (of plants) to form or shed seeds
(tr) to remove the seeds from (fruit, etc)
(tr) chem to add a small crystal to (a supersaturated solution or supercooled liquid) in order to cause crystallization
(tr) to scatter certain substances, such as silver iodide, in (clouds) in order to cause rain
(tr)
to arrange (the draw of a tournament) so that outstanding teams or players will not meet in the early rounds
to distribute (players or teams) in this manner
Origin of seed
1Derived forms of seed
- seedlike, adjective
- seedless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for SEED (2 of 2)
Scottish Executive Education Department
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
Scientific definitions for seed
[ sēd ]
A mature fertilized ovule of angiosperms and gymnosperms that contains an embryo and the food it will need to grow into a new plant. Seeds provide a great reproductive advantage in being able to survive for extended periods until conditions are favorable for germination and growth. The seeds of gymnosperms (such as the conifers) develop on scales of cones or similar structures, while the seeds of angiosperms are enclosed in an ovary that develops into a fruit, such as a pome or nut. The structure of seeds varies somewhat. All seeds are enclosed in a protective seed coat. In certain angiosperms the embryo is enclosed in or attached to an endosperm, a tissue that it uses as a food source either before or during germination. All angiosperm embryos also have at least one cotyledon. The first seed-bearing plants emerged at least 365 million years ago in the late Devonian Period. Many angiosperms have evolved specific fruits for dispersal of seeds by the wind, water, or animals. See more at germination ovule.
To plant seeds in soil.
To initiate rainfall or to generate additional rainfall by artificially increasing the precipitation efficiency of clouds. See more at cloud seeding.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with seed
see run to seed.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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