seed
gb/sˈid/ us/sˈid/
A2
English
~ 2900
mag, csíra, vet, bevet, kiemelt, kiemelés
NOUN
A2
1
mag
A2
Usage pattern:
a [type] seed
Farmers plant seeds in the spring.
A gazdák tavasszal vetik el a magokat.
The apple has several small seeds inside.
Az almában több apró mag van.
She bought tomato seeds for her garden.
Birds were eating the seeds from the feeder.
Learner examples
I put seeds in the soil.
Magokat tettem a földbe.
This fruit has many seeds.
Ebben a gyümölcsben sok mag van.
We plant seeds in the garden.
Seeds can grow into big plants.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'seed' with 'pit' or 'stone' (hard center of some fruits).
Meaning
plant reproductive unit
Collocations
plant seeds
|sunflower seeds
|seed packet
|scatter seeds
Synonyms
grain (Refers to seeds from cereal plants, often used for food.)
Antonyms
weed (An unwanted plant, the opposite in context of intentionally planted seeds.)
Themes
nature
|biology
|gardening
Definition
A small part from a plant that can grow into another plant.
A small, usually hard part produced by a plant from which a new plant can grow.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
the seed of [something]
That comment planted the seed of doubt in my mind.
Ez a megjegyzés elültette bennem a kétely magját.
The meeting was the seed of their partnership.
Az a találkozó volt a partnerségük csírája.
Her book planted the seed for a new movement.
Learner examples
He gave me the seed of an idea.
Tőle kaptam egy ötlet csíráját.
A small talk was the seed of a big plan.
Egy rövid beszélgetés volt a nagy terv csírája.
This is the seed of change.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is figurative and try to interpret it literally as a plant seed.
Meaning
starting point of idea
Collocations
seeds of doubt
|seeds of change
|seeds of conflict
Synonyms
origin (Focuses more on the source or cause than on the smallness or potential for growth.)
Antonyms
result (The outcome rather than the starting point.)
Themes
ideas
|metaphor
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
The first small part of an idea or plan.
The starting point or small beginning of an idea, feeling, or situation.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to seed [a field/garden]
They seeded the field with wheat.
Búzával vetették be a földet.
We need to seed the lawn before winter.
Tél előtt fűmaggal kell bevetnünk a gyepet.
Gardeners often seed trays indoors in early spring.
Learner examples
We seed the garden in April.
Áprilisban vetjük be a kertet.
He seeded the field yesterday.
Tegnap bevetette a földet.
Farmers seed their land in spring.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'seed' with 'plant', not realizing 'plant' can mean placing a whole young plant, not seeds.
Meaning
to plant seeds
Collocations
seed a lawn
|seed the field
|seed tray
Synonyms
sow (A slightly more formal or agricultural term for planting seeds.)
Antonyms
harvest (To gather mature crops, opposite of planting.)
Themes
gardening
|farming
|nature
Definition
To put seeds into soil so they can grow.
To place seeds in soil or another medium so they can grow into plants.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[number]-seeded [player/team]
She is the top seed at Wimbledon this year.
Idén ő az első kiemelt Wimbledonban.
The number two seed lost in the first round.
A második kiemelt kikapott az első fordulóban.
An unseeded player reached the finals.
Learner examples
He is the top seed in the match.
Ő az első kiemelt a mérkőzésen.
The second seed won the game.
A második kiemelt megnyerte a meccset.
She plays against an unseeded player.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'seed' here with planting; context in sports is different.
Meaning
ranked tournament position
Collocations
top seed
|number one seed
|seeded player
Synonyms
ranking (General term for position; 'seed' is specific to tournaments.)
Antonyms
unseeded player (A competitor without a ranking in the draw.)
Themes
sports
Definition
A number showing how strong a player or team is in a competition.
A ranking given to a player or team in a tournament to separate top competitors until later rounds.
Grammar
Dictionary form
seed
IPA
GB/sˈid/
US/sˈid/
Syllables & stress
seed (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (seed)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: seed
- Plural: seed, seeds
Verb
- Base: seed
- 3rd Person Singular: seeds
- Present Participle: seeding
- Past: seeded
Word family
Expressions
bear fruit from a seed
1/bˈɛɹ fɹˈut fɹˈʌm ə sˈid/
idiom
produce results from initial effort
To have success or results after starting something earlier.
Examples
- His idea finally bore fruit from the seed he planted years ago.
- The training program is bearing fruit from the seed money invested.
go to seed
1/ɡˈoʊ tə sˈid/
idiom
to deteriorate over time
To become untidy, weak, or in bad condition after being better before.
Examples
- The garden has really gone to seed since they moved away.
- He used to be so fit, but he's gone to seed lately.
seed money
1/sˈid mˈʌni/
fixed phrase
starting funds for project/business
Money used to start a new business or project.
Examples
- They raised seed money from investors to launch their app.
- Without seed money, the startup couldn't begin.
plant a seed
1/plˈænt ə sˈid/
idiom
Cause something to begin growing or developing later
To start an idea or plan that will grow or develop later.
Examples
- Her words planted a seed that grew into a new project.
- Her teacher planted a seed that inspired her to become a scientist.
- The teacher planted a seed of curiosity in his students.
- The marketing campaign planted a seed of curiosity about the product.