herb

¹

[ urbor, especially British, 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. Often the herb. Slang. marijuana.
4. Archaic. herbage.

Herb

²

[ hurb ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Herbert.

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

/ ûrb /

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈherbˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• herb·less adjective
• herb·like 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, Australian Slang. to use full power, especially in accelerating a car.

Example Sentences

A light touch of herbs, some seasonings and a bright pop of fresh lemon juice, and you have a most brilliant concoction, a concoction that is now as much of a Creole classic as gumbo.

From Salon

A vegan who smokes medicinal herbs and has no time for Midwestern niceties, Robyn has had many lives.

From Los Angeles Times

All the while you’re wearing a heated eye mask and your feet are soaking in a warm bath infused with Chinese herbs.

From Los Angeles Times

Other collections run the gamut, from a mix of poppies to culinary herbs, or easy-to-grow vegetable seeds for the beginning gardener.

From Los Angeles Times

“Tribute is paid to all grandmothers, great-grandmothers, mothers and traditional healers who in times past could cure everything from a broken heart to clinical illnesses with the help of herbs, flowers, bark, etc.”

From Salon

Related Words

• condiment
• dressing
• gravy
• pepper
• salt
• sauce
• spice