weed
gb/wˈid/ us/wˈid/
A2
English
~ 8900
gyom, fű, marihuána, gyomlál, nyápic, hínár, gyászruha
NOUN
A2
1
gyom
B1
Usage pattern:
pull [weeds] from [a place]
I spent the afternoon pulling weeds from the flower beds.
A délutánt azzal töltöttem, hogy kihúzgáltam a gyomokat a virágágyásokból.
If you don't remove the weeds, they'll take over the lawn.
Ha nem távolítod el a gyomokat, ellepik a pázsitot.
The vegetable patch is full of weeds after all that rain.
She sprayed weed killer along the driveway to stop the weeds coming back.
Tall weeds were growing between the cracks in the pavement.
Learner examples
There are many weeds in our garden.
Sok gyom van a kertünkben.
He pulls the weeds from the grass every weekend.
Minden hétvégén kihúzza a gyomokat a fűből.
We used a tool to cut the weeds.
The farmer wants a clean field with no weeds.
Rain helps the weeds grow very fast.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the slang meaning for marijuana. In gardening or farming contexts, "weed" almost always means an unwanted plant, not a drug.
Meaning
unwanted wild plant
Collocations
pull weeds
|remove weeds
|garden weeds
|weed problem
|weed killer
|weed control
Synonyms
unwanted plant (neutral descriptive phrase that clearly states the idea but is less compact and less common as a set term.)
Antonyms
cultivated plant (refers to plants that people choose and care for, which are the opposite of weeds that grow without being wanted.)
Themes
nature
|home
|daily life
|agriculture
|daily_life
Definition
A plant that grows in a place where people do not want it, for example in a garden or in a field of crops.
A wild plant growing where it is not wanted, especially among crops, grass, or garden plants.
B2
SLANG
2
Usage pattern:
smoke [weed] with [someone]
He got arrested for carrying a small amount of weed.
Letartóztatták, mert kis mennyiségű fű volt nála.
They went behind the building to smoke some weed.
Az épület mögé mentek füvet szívni.
In some states, it's now legal to buy weed from licensed shops.
She said she used weed to help her relax after work.
The smell of weed drifted in from the balcony next door.
Learner examples
They were smoking weed in the park at night.
Éjszaka füvet szívtak a parkban.
In this country it is illegal to sell weed.
Ebben az országban tilos füvet árulni.
Some people think weed is not very dangerous, but others disagree.
The police found weed in his car.
He stopped using weed because it made him anxious.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "weed" always refers to this drug meaning. In many contexts, especially gardening, "weed" only means an unwanted plant. Also, this sense is informal slang and should be avoided in formal writing.
Meaning
marijuana, cannabis (slang)
Collocations
smoke weed
|buy weed
|sell weed
|weed dealer
|weed smoker
|legal weed
Synonyms
marijuana (the most common neutral term; "weed" is more informal and slangy.)
Antonyms
sobriety (describes the state of not using alcohol or drugs; often seen as the opposite of using weed or other substances.)
Themes
drugs
|youth
|law
|health
|daily_life
Definition
Marijuana; a drug made from the cannabis plant that people often smoke to feel relaxed or high.
Marijuana; the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant used as a drug, especially when smoked.
VERB
B1
3
gyomlál
B1
Usage pattern:
weed [a garden/area]
I need to weed the garden before the guests arrive.
Ki kell gyomlálnom a kertet, mielőtt megérkeznek a vendégek.
She spent the morning weeding the paths between the raised beds.
A délelőttöt az emelt ágyások közötti ösvények gyomlálásával töltötte.
We try to weed the vegetable patch every week during the summer.
He carefully weeded around the young tomato plants.
If you don't weed regularly, the garden soon looks messy.
Learner examples
Today I will weed the garden.
Ma kigyomlálom a kertet.
She weeds the flowers every Saturday.
Minden szombaton kigyomlálja a virágágyásokat.
We must weed this area before we plant new trees.
He is weeding the small plants by hand.
They did not weed the field, so many weeds grew.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"take out the weeds the garden"* instead of "weed the garden". Use "weed" as a verb with an object, for example: "weed the garden", "weed the lawn".
Meaning
remove weeds from ground
Collocations
weed the garden
|weed the flower beds
|weed the vegetable patch
|time to weed
|weed by hand
|weed regularly
Synonyms
remove weeds (a clear descriptive phrase; "weed" as a verb is shorter and more natural in gardening contexts.)
Antonyms
plant ("plant" is the opposite gardening action: putting plants into the ground instead of taking them out.)
Themes
nature
|home
|daily life
|agriculture
|daily_life
Definition
To take weeds out of the ground in a garden, field, or other place so that good plants can grow well.
To remove weeds from an area of ground so that the wanted plants can grow better.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
4
nyápic
B2
Usage pattern:
call [someone] a weed
He used to be a skinny little weed at school, but now he's really fit.
Az iskolában régen egy vézna kis nyápic volt, de most nagyon jó formában van.
Don't be such a weed—stand up for yourself.
Ne legyél már ilyen nyápic — állj ki magadért!
She thought he was a bit of a weed and not her type at all.
The coach called him a weed for avoiding every tackle.
In those days I was a nervous weed who hated speaking in public.
Learner examples
His brother calls him a weed because he is very thin.
A testvére nyápicnak hívja, mert nagyon vékony.
She thinks he is a weed and not very brave.
Szerinte a fiú nyápic, és nem túl bátor.
When I was a child, I was a little weed in my class.
He felt like a weed next to all the strong players.
They laughed at him and called him a weed.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is positive because plants grow fast like "a weed". In fact, calling someone a "weed" is negative and usually unkind.
Meaning
weak or timid person (insult)
Collocations
a little weed
|a skinny weed
|a pathetic weed
|a miserable weed
Synonyms
wimp (a very common informal insult for a weak or cowardly person; "weed" sounds slightly more old-fashioned or British and often suggests being thin as well.)
Antonyms
tough guy (an informal term for someone strong or confident, the opposite of a weak, unimpressive "weed".)
Themes
people
|character
|insults
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
A person who seems weak, thin, or not brave, used as a rude or unkind word.
A person, especially a man or boy, who is considered physically weak, timid, or socially unimpressive, used as an insult.
NOUN
B2
5
hínár
B2
Usage pattern:
[weed] grows in [water/place]
Thick green weed was drifting just below the surface of the pond.
Sűrű zöld hínár lebegett közvetlenül a tó felszíne alatt.
They had to clear the weed from the canal so boats could pass.
El kellett távolítaniuk a hínárt a csatornából, hogy a hajók át tudjanak haladni.
Fish were hiding in the long strands of weed.
The beach was covered in rotting weed after the storm.
Divers reported heavy weed growth near the shore.
Learner examples
There is a lot of weed in the pond.
Sok hínár van a tóban.
The boat could not move because weed blocked the river.
A hajó nem tudott továbbmenni, mert hínár torlaszolta el a folyót.
Fish like to hide in the weed under the water.
After the storm, weed washed up on the beach.
They removed the weed from the small lake.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the more common gardening sense or think only "seaweed" is correct. In many descriptions of rivers, canals, or ponds, "weed" is natural and does not mean marijuana.
Meaning
plant growing in water
Collocations
pond weed
|river weed
|floating weed
|sea weed (nonstandard spacing)
|weed-choked lake
Synonyms
seaweed (the usual word for plants growing in the sea; "weed" alone is broader and can also refer to plants in fresh water or in combinations like "pond weed".)
Antonyms
land plant (refers to plants that grow on dry ground, not in water.)
Themes
nature
|water
|environment
Definition
A plant that grows in water, especially in the sea or in a lake or river.
A plant that grows in water, especially seaweed or similar plants in rivers, lakes, or the sea.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
6
gyászruha
B2
Usage pattern:
wear [widow's] weeds
She appeared at the funeral in full widow's weeds.
Teljes özvegyi gyászruhában jelent meg a temetésen.
In her black weeds, she looked years older than before.
Fekete gyászruhájában évekkel idősebbnek tűnt, mint korábban.
The novel opens with the heroine still in her weeds after her husband's death.
After a year she put aside her weeds and began to wear colour again.
The portrait shows her in heavy weeds and a dark veil.
Learner examples
In old stories, widows often wear weeds.
Régi történetekben az özvegyek gyakran gyászruhát viselnek.
She is still in her weeds after her husband died.
A férje halála után még mindig gyászruhában jár.
The painting shows a woman in black weeds.
After one year, she took off her weeds and wore blue again.
The writer describes the old woman in widow's weeds.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this is related to plants or to marijuana. In this old, literary sense, "weeds" means clothes for mourning and almost always appears in the phrase "widow's weeds".
Meaning
mourning clothes (usually plural)
Collocations
widow's weeds
|in her weeds
|put on her weeds
|cast off her weeds
Synonyms
mourning clothes (a modern neutral phrase; "weeds" is literary and strongly associated with widows in older writing.)
Antonyms
bright clothes (colourful, cheerful clothing contrasts with the dark mourning "weeds" worn after a death.)
Themes
clothing
|death
|culture
|relationships
Definition
Old or literary word for special dark clothes that people, especially widows, wear to show they are in mourning, usually said as "weeds".
Clothing worn as a sign of mourning, especially the black clothes traditionally worn by a widow, usually used in the plural "weeds".
Grammar
Dictionary form
weed
IPA
GB/wˈid/
US/wˈid/
Syllables & stress
weed (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (weed)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: weed
- Plural: weed, weeds
Verb
- Base: weed
- 3rd Person Singular: weeds
- Present Participle: weeding
- Past: weeded
Word family
Forms
weeds
noun
weeding
verb
weeded
verb
Related words
weedy
adjective
weedkiller
noun
Advanced or less common
weeder
noun
Expressions
in the weeds
1/ˈɪn ðə wˈidz/
idiom
informal
overwhelmed and far behind
To be very busy and behind with your work, with more problems or tasks than you can handle, especially in restaurants or busy jobs.
Examples
- Sorry I didn't reply—I was really in the weeds at work yesterday.
- The servers were in the weeds as soon as the dinner rush started.
- We're a bit in the weeds on this project, but we'll catch up.
smoke weed
1/smˈoʊk wˈid/
fixed phrase
slang
use marijuana by smoking it
To smoke marijuana to feel relaxed or high.
Examples
- They used to smoke weed together after class.
- He says he doesn't smoke weed anymore because it makes him paranoid.
- Some people only smoke weed on weekends to relax.
weed control
1/wˈid kəntɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
technical
methods to reduce weed growth
Ways to stop or slow the growth of weeds, for example by using chemicals, tools, or ground covers.
Examples
- Good weed control is essential for healthy crops.
- The farmer invested in better weed control to increase his yields.
- Mulch can be an effective form of weed control in home gardens.
weed eater
1/wˈid ˈitɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
powered grass and weed trimmer
Another informal name for a garden machine with a spinning string that cuts grass and weeds, like a weed whacker.
Examples
- He grabbed the weed eater to clean up the yard edges.
- The battery on the weed eater died halfway through the job.
- She prefers a light weed eater because it's easier to carry.
weed killer
1/wˈid kˈɪlɚ/
fixed phrase
chemical that kills weeds
A chemical that you put on the ground or on plants to kill weeds.
Examples
- He sprayed weed killer along the fence line.
- Make sure you buy a lawn-safe weed killer so you don't damage the grass.
- Some gardeners prefer not to use weed killer for environmental reasons.
weed out
1/wˈid ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
remove unwanted members from a group
To remove people or things that are not good, not needed, or not wanted from a larger group.
Examples
- The company is trying to weed out underperforming staff.
- These tests help us weed out the weakest candidates.
- Regular audits are used to weed out corruption in the system.
weed the garden
1/wˈid ðə ɡˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
remove weeds from a garden
To take weeds out of a garden so that flowers or vegetables can grow well.
Examples
- I usually weed the garden on Sunday mornings.
- She asked the kids to weed the garden before they played video games.
- If we don't weed the garden soon, the vegetables will struggle.
weed whacker
1/wˈid wˈækɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
powered tool for cutting weeds
A garden machine with a long handle and a fast-spinning string that cuts grass and weeds, usually used around edges and fences.
Examples
- He trimmed the long grass with a weed whacker.
- The noise from the weed whacker woke up the whole street.
- You'll need a weed whacker to clean up around those fence posts.
widow's weeds
1/wˈɪdoʊz wˈidz/
fixed phrase
literary
a widow's mourning clothes
Old or literary phrase for the black clothes a woman wears after her husband dies to show she is in mourning.
Examples
- She sat by the window in her widow's weeds, staring at the street below.
- The painting shows the queen in heavy widow's weeds.
- After a year she laid aside her widow's weeds and travelled abroad.