seed

[ seed ]

noun

, plural seeds, (especially collectively) seed.

1. the fertilized, matured ovule of a flowering plant, containing an embryo or rudimentary plant.
2. any propagative part of a plant, including tubers, bulbs, etc., especially as preserved for growing a new crop.
3. such parts collectively.
4. any similar small part or fruit.
5. Dialect. pit ².
6. the germ or propagative source of anything:

   the seeds of discord.

7. offspring; progeny.

   Synonyms: issue, posterity

8. birth:

   not of mortal seed.

9. sperm; semen.
10. the ovum or ova of certain animals, as the lobster and the silkworm moth.
11. seed oyster.
12. a small air bubble in a glass piece, caused by defective firing.
13. Crystallography, Chemistry. a small crystal added to a solution to promote crystallization.
14. Tennis. a player who has been seeded in a tournament.

verb (used with object)

1. to sow (a field, lawn, etc.) with seed.
2. to sow or scatter (seed).
3. to sow or scatter (clouds) with crystals or particles of silver iodide, solid carbon dioxide, etc., to induce precipitation.
4. to place, introduce, etc., especially in the hope of increase or profit:

   to seed a lake with trout.

5. to sprinkle on (a surface, substance, etc.) in the manner of seed:

   to seed an icy bridge with chemicals.

6. to remove the seeds from (fruit).
7. Sports.
   1. to arrange (the drawings for positions in a tournament) so that ranking players or teams will not meet in the early rounds of play.
   2. to distribute (ranking players or teams) in this manner.
8. to develop or stimulate (a business, project, etc.), especially by providing operating capital.

verb (used without object)

1. to sow seed.
2. to produce or shed seed.

adjective

1. of or producing seed; used for seed:

   a seed potato.

2. 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.

seed

¹

/ siːd /

noun

1. botany a mature fertilized plant ovule, consisting of an embryo and its food store surrounded by a protective seed coat (testa) seminal
2. the small hard seedlike fruit of plants such as wheat
3. (loosely) any propagative part of a plant, such as a tuber, spore, or bulb
4. such parts collectively
5. the source, beginning, or germ of anything

   the seeds of revolt

6. Bible offspring or descendants

   the seed of Abraham

7. an archaic or dialect term for sperm 1 semen
8. sport a seeded player
9. the egg cell or cells of the lobster and certain other animals
10. See seed oyster
11. chem a small crystal added to a supersaturated solution or supercooled liquid to induce crystallization
12. go to seed or run to seed
    1. (of plants) to produce and shed seeds
    2. to lose vigour, usefulness, etc

verb

1. to plant (seeds, grain, etc) in (soil)

   we seeded this field with oats

2. intr (of plants) to form or shed seeds
3. tr to remove the seeds from (fruit, etc)
4. tr chem to add a small crystal to (a supersaturated solution or supercooled liquid) in order to cause crystallization
5. tr to scatter certain substances, such as silver iodide, in (clouds) in order to cause rain
6. tr
   1. to arrange (the draw of a tournament) so that outstanding teams or players will not meet in the early rounds
   2. to distribute (players or teams) in this manner

SEED

²

abbreviation for

1. Scottish Executive Education Department

seed

/ sēd /

Noun

1. 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.
2. See more at germination

Verb

1. To plant seeds in soil.
2. To initiate rainfall or to generate additional rainfall by artificially increasing the precipitation efficiency of clouds.
3. See more at cloud seeding

Derived Forms

• ˈseedless, adjective
• ˈseedˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• seedless adjective
• seedless·ness noun
• seedlike 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-seeded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of seed¹

before 900; (noun) Middle English sede, side, seed ( e ), Old English sēd, sǣd; cognate with German Saat, Old Norse sāth, Gothic -seths; (v.) Middle English seden to produce seeds, derivative of the noun; akin to sow 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of seed¹

Old English sǣd; related to Old Norse sāth, Gothic sēths, Old High German sāt

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go / run to seed,
   1. (of the flower of a plant) to pass to the stage of yielding seed.
   2. to lose vigor, power, or prosperity; deteriorate:

      He has gone to seed in the last few years.

2. in seed,
   1. (of certain plants) in the state of bearing ripened seeds.
   2. (of a field, a lawn, etc.) sown with seed.

More idioms and phrases containing seed

see run to seed .

Example Sentences

"I haven't had much luck growing them from seed," he says.

From Salon

Inspired by foods like chia seeds, which are naturally enveloped in a soft, gel-like layer, the researchers encapsulated pea cell-wall fibers in a gel that forms a soft coating around the fiber particles.

From Science Daily

He’s more than just a shower of sunflower seeds.

From Los Angeles Times

And at Chishuru, whose prix fixe dinner menu is priced at £95, egusi — a seed used in soup, usually served with pounded yam — flavors an ice cream accompanying a meringue sponge.

From New York Times

The qualifying draw will take place in Switzerland on 13 December with Wales among the second seeds.

From BBC

Related Words

• berry
• corn
• egg
• grain
• nut