Herb

¹

[hurb]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Herbert.

herb

²

[urb, hurb]

noun

1. a flowering plant whose stem above ground does not become woody.

2. such a plant when valued for its medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like.

3. Slang.,  Often the herb. marijuana.

4. Archaic.,  herbage.

herb

/ ɜːrb, hɜːb /

noun

1. a seed-bearing plant whose aerial parts do not persist above ground at the end of the growing season; herbaceous plant

2. 1. any of various usually aromatic plants, such as parsley, rue, and rosemary, that are used in cookery and medicine

   2. ( as modifier )

      a herb garden

3. a slang term for marijuana

herb

1. A flowering plant whose stem does not produce woody tissue and generally dies back at the end of each growing season. Both grasses and forbs are herbs.

Other Word Forms

• herbless adjective
• herblike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of herb¹

1250–1300; Middle English herbe < Old French erbe, herbe < Latin herba

Word History and Origins

Origin of herb¹

C13: from Old French herbe, from Latin herba grass, green plants

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. give it the herbs, to use full power, especially in accelerating a car.

Example Sentences

He plants herbs and fruit trees around it, and keeps a guest book with messages from visitors in dozens of languages.

Read more on Barron's

Outside, the dome was surrounded by a lush garden of wildflowers and herbs and berry bushes.

Read more on Literature

From there, you can go wherever your cravings take you: roasted vegetables, cheese, crumbled bacon, herbs, even a swirl of jam if you’re feeling cheeky.

Read more on Salon

We ordered what I consider to be the perfect lunch: mussels poached in white wine and herbs, slices of crusty country loaf griddled in olive oil, and a plate of frites with aioli.

Read more on Salon

I’m guided down a wood-flanked hallway, an array of around 80 spices and herbs displayed in large jars at its end.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flower 
• grass 
• seedling 
• shrub 
• tree 
• vine 
• weed