weed

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US /wiːd/ 
UK /wiːd/ 

Oxford Essential Dictionary

weed

noun
a wild plant that grows where you do not want it:
The garden of the old house was full of weeds.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

weed

I. weed1 /wiːd/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: weod]
1. [countable] a wild plant growing where it is not wanted that prevents crops or garden flowers from growing properly:
the constant battle against weeds
2. [uncountable] a plant without flowers that grows on water in a large green floating mass ⇨ seaweed
3. [countable] British English informal someone who is weak:
Nigel’s such a weed, isn’t he?
4. like weeds in large numbers:
Cars clogged the roads like weeds.
5. the weed informal cigarettes or tobacco
6. [uncountable] old-fashioned ↑cannabis
7. (widow’s) weeds old use black clothes worn by a woman whose husband has died
• • •
THESAURUS
plant a living thing that has leaves and roots and grows in earth, especially one that is smaller than a tree: Don’t forget to water the plants. | Plants grow towards the sun. | Botanists examined plant species from around the world.
herb a small plant that is used to improve the taste of food, or to make medicine: Sprinkle the dish with chopped fresh herbs. | medicinal herbs (=used as medicine) | The shop sells an interesting range of herbs and spices.
weed a wild plant growing where it is not wanted that prevents crops or garden flowers from growing properly: She was pulling up weeds in her garden. | Herbicides can be used to prevent and control weeds.
bulb a root shaped like a ball that grows into a flower or plant: She planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs.
shrub a small bush with several woody stems: flowering shrubs | Rosemary is an evergreen shrub.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

weed

 

weed [weed weeds weeded weeding] noun, verb   [wiːd]    [wiːd] 

 

noun
1. countable a wild plant growing where it is not wanted, especially among crops or garden plants

• The yard was overgrown with weeds.

 

2. uncountable any wild plant without flowers that grows in water and forms a green floating mass

3. the weed singular (humorous)  tobacco or cigarettes

• I wish I could give up the weed (= stop smoking).

 

4. uncountable (informal) the drug cannabis

5. countable (BrE, informal, disapproving) a person with a weak character or body
Don't be such a weed!  
Word Origin:
Old English wēod (noun), wēodian (verb), of unknown origin; related to Dutch wieden (verb).  
Example Bank:
Routine maintenance of the garden consists of keeping weeds under control.
• There were weeds pushing up through the gravel.

Derived: weed somebody out 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

weed     / wid /   noun   (PLANT) 
  
    C2   [ C ]   any wild plant that grows in an unwanted place, especially in a garden or field where it prevents the cultivated plants from growing freely 
      [ U ]   slang    →      cannabis 
      [ U ]   UK   old-fashioned   informal    →      tobacco 

 

weed / wiːd / noun [ C ] UK informal disapproving (PERSON)

someone who is thin and physically weak or who is weak in character:

He looks like a real weed in those shorts.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

weed

[wi͟ːd]
 weeds, weeding, weeded
 1) N-COUNT A weed is a wild plant that grows in gardens or fields of crops and prevents the plants that you want from growing properly.
  With repeated applications of weedkiller, the weeds were overcome.
 2) N-VAR Weed is a plant that grows in water and usually forms a thick floating mass. There are many different kinds of weed.
  Large, clogging banks of weed are the only problem.
 4) N-UNCOUNT: also the N People sometimes refer to tobacco or marijuana as weed. [INFORMAL]
  Two and a half years ago I gave up the evil weed.
 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

1weed /ˈwiːd/ noun, pl weeds
1 [count] : a plant that grows very quickly where it is not wanted and covers or kills more desirable plants
• We pulled weeds from the garden.
• an invasive weed
- see also milkweed, ragweed, seaweed, tumbleweed
2 [noncount] informal : marijuana
• They were smoking weed.
3 the weed chiefly Brit informal : cigarettes and other tobacco products
• She's trying to give up the weed. [=trying to quit smoking]
grow like a weed chiefly US informal : to grow very quickly
• Their business is growing like a weed.
• Look at you! You're growing like a weed!