milkweed

[ milk-weed ]

noun

1. any of several plants that secrete a milky juice or latex, especially those of the genus Asclepias, as A. syriaca. Compare milkweed family.
2. any of various other plants having a milky juice, as certain spurges.

milkweed

/ ˈmɪlkˌwiːd /

noun

1. Also calledsilkweed any plant of the mostly North American genus Asclepias, having milky sap and pointed pods that split open to release tufted seeds: family Asclepiadaceae See also asclepias
2. any of various other plants having milky sap
3. orange milkweed
   another name for butterfly weed
4. another name for monarch

Word History and Origins

Origin of milkweed¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; milk + weed ¹

Example Sentences

And of course, there are her abundant stands of narrow leaf milkweed — the first native plants she added that are now nearly five feet tall.

From Los Angeles Times

He also advocates planting native milkweeds like narrow leaf and woollypod, summer bloomers that will attract lots of pollinators, especially the endangered Western monarch butterflies.

From Los Angeles Times

There are also signs that other animals are already starting to use the crossing, and a native plant nursery is preparing to seed the bridge with local sages, shrubs, milkweed and other vegetation.

From Los Angeles Times

And remember to include plants like milkweed for butterflies and sunflowers for bees.

From Seattle Times

I swarmed up him, over the life preserver, spongy with all its milkweed inside.

From Literature