plural seed or seeds
1
a(1)
: the grains or ripened ovules of plants used for sowing
(2)
: the fertilized ripened ovule of a flowering plant containing an embryo and capable normally of germination to produce a new plant
broadly
: a propagative plant structure (such as a spore or small dry fruit)
c
: the condition or stage of bearing seed
in seed
2
: progeny
3
: a source of development or growth : germ
sowed the seeds of discord
4
: something (such as a tiny particle or a bubble in glass) that resembles a seed in shape or size
5
: a competitor who has been seeded in a tournament
the top seed
seeded; seeding; seeds
1
b
: to furnish with something that causes or stimulates growth or development
c
d
: to supply with nuclei (as of crystallization or condensation)
especially
: to treat (a cloud) with solid particles to convert water droplets into ice crystals in an attempt to produce precipitation
e
: to cover or permeate by or as if by scattering something
seeded [the] sea-lanes with thousands of magnetic mines—
Otto Friedrich
Otto Friedrich2
3
: to extract the seeds from (fruit)
4
a
: to schedule (tournament players or teams) so that superior ones will not meet in early rounds
b
: to rank (a contestant) relative to others in a tournament on the basis of previous record
the top-seeded tennis star
Did you know?
Do you cede or seed control?
Cede means "to yield or grant typically by treaty." Most of the verb senses of seed are concerned with planting seeds (either literal, as of plants, or figuratively, as of ideas). However, the word may also be used to mean "to schedule (tournament players or teams) so that superior ones will not meet in early rounds." If you relinquish or yield something you are ceding it, and if you are organizing the participants in a tournament you are seeding them.
Synonyms
Examples of seed in a Sentence
Noun
a packet of sunflower seeds
He planted the seeds three inches apart.
She raked the grass seed into the soil.
The top seed won the tournament.
Our team is the number one seed.
She is ranked as the third seed.
Verb
We seeded the field with corn.
These plants will seed late in the fall.
After you wash and seed the peppers you can chop them.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
The seeds are especially good for you, said Healthline.
—Tess Foley-Cox, theweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
The top four of that group will be seeded No. 1-4 and will have a first-round bye.
—Ross Terrell, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seed 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The seeds of Ver’s legal peril lay in his success as an early crypto investor — long before the latest Bitcoin rally fueled by Donald Trump’s US presidential win.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
The seeds are especially good for you, said Healthline.
—Tess Foley-Cox, theweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
For example, Simi Valley is seeded No. 1 in Division 3, but drawing Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in the opening round isn’t exactly an easy opponent.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
The top four of that group will be seeded No. 1-4 and will have a first-round bye.
—Ross Terrell, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for seed
Dictionary Entries Near seed
Cite this Entry
“Seed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seed. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seed
1 of 2 noun
plural seed or seeds
1
2
: the children of one individual
the seed of David
3
: something from which growth takes place : germ
4
: a competitor who has been seeded in a tournament
the top seed
seed
2 of 2 verb1
: to produce or shed seeds
weeds that seed freely
2
: to plant seeds in : sow
seed a lawn with grass
3
: to treat (a cloud) with solid particles to convert water droplets into ice crystals in an attempt to produce rain
4
: to remove seeds from
5
: to rank (a player or team) in a tournament on the basis of previous record
was seeded second in the state tournament
Medical Definition
seed
1 of 3 noun
plural seed or seeds
1
a
: the fertilized ripened ovule of a flowering plant containing an embryo and capable normally of germination to produce a new plant
broadly
: a propagative plant structure (as a spore or small dry fruit)
2
: a small usually glass and gold or platinum capsule used as a container for a radioactive substance (as radium or radon) to be applied usually interstitially in the treatment of cancer
implantation of radon seeds for bladder cancer
seed
2 of 3 intransitive verb
: to bear or shed seed
1
: to furnish with something that causes or stimulates growth or development
2
3
: to supply with nuclei (as of crystallization or condensation)
seed
3 of 3 adjective1
: selected or used to produce a new crop or stock
seed virus
2
: left or saved for breeding
a seed population
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