English

herbicide

gb/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/ us/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
B2 English
~ 8000
Senses
0 senses
Noun technical B2 entity
1

chemical for killing unwanted plants

A chemical that people use to kill plants they do not want, especially weeds, on farms or in gardens.

Usage pattern: [someone] applies [herbicide] to [plants/land]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "herbicide" with "pesticide" or "insecticide". "Herbicide" is only for killing unwanted plants (especially weeds), while "insecticide" is for killing insects and "fungicide" is for killing fungi. Another common issue is article use: it can be both countable and uncountable ("a new herbicide" vs. "too much herbicide").
Synonyms
weed killer (Very close in meaning and more informal; commonly used in everyday speech and on product labels for home gardens.) | pesticide (More general; refers to chemicals that kill pests of many kinds (insects, weeds, fungi), not only unwanted plants.)
Antonyms
fertilizer (A substance added to soil to help plants grow, which is opposite in purpose to an herbicide that kills plants.)
Collocations
apply herbicide |spray herbicide |herbicide resistance |herbicide use |herbicide drift |herbicide application
Themes
agriculture |environment |science |nature |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • The farmer used a selective herbicide to target broadleaf weeds in the cornfield.
  • Concerns have been raised about the impact of herbicide runoff on nearby rivers and lakes.
  • Organic growers avoid synthetic herbicides and rely on mechanical weed control instead.
  • Overuse of the same herbicide can lead to resistant weed populations.
  • The label explains how much herbicide to mix with water before spraying.
Learner examples
  • He sprayed herbicide on the weeds in his garden.
  • Some people worry that herbicide can harm the environment.
  • This herbicide kills the grass but not the flowers.
  • They use herbicide on the field before planting new crops.
  • The new law limits how much herbicide farmers can use.
Grammar
Dictionary form
herbicide
IPA
GB/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
US/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
Syllables & stress
herb - i - cide (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (herb)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: herbicide
  • Plural: herbicide, herbicides
Word family
Forms
herbicides noun
Core family
herbicidal adjective
Related words
weedkiller noun pesticide noun B1 insecticide noun
Expressions

apply herbicide

1
/əplˈaɪ ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
fixed phrase technical

to use herbicide on plants

To put herbicide on plants or soil, for example by spraying or spreading it.

Examples
  • Farmers are advised to apply herbicide when weeds are small for best control.
  • You should only apply herbicide on a calm day to avoid drift.

herbicide application

1
/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd ˌæplɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase technical

act of applying herbicide

The act of using herbicide on plants or soil, or the time when it is used.

Examples
  • The timing of herbicide application is critical for effective weed control.
  • Improper herbicide application can damage the crop and the soil.

herbicide drift

1
/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd dɹˈɪft/
fixed phrase technical

herbicide moving off target area

When herbicide that is sprayed in one place is carried by the wind and lands on plants or land in another place.

Examples
  • Her orchard was damaged by herbicide drift from a neighboring farm.
  • New regulations aim to reduce herbicide drift near residential areas.

herbicide resistance

1
/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd ɹɪzˈɪstəns/
fixed phrase technical

ability of weeds to survive herbicide

A situation where weeds or other plants do not die when people use a herbicide that used to kill them.

Examples
  • Herbicide resistance has become a major problem for soybean farmers in the region.
  • Rotating chemicals can slow the development of herbicide resistance in weed populations.

herbicide-resistant

1
/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd ɹɪzˈɪstənt/
fixed phrase technical

able to survive herbicide

Describes plants or seeds that do not die when a certain herbicide is used on them.

Examples
  • Scientists developed a herbicide-resistant crop so farmers can spray fields without harming the plants.
  • Many farmers now struggle with herbicide-resistant weeds in their fields.

herbicide-tolerant

1
/ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd tˈɑlɚənt/
fixed phrase technical

crops that tolerate herbicide

Describes crop plants that can be treated with a herbicide without being badly harmed.

Examples
  • The company markets several herbicide-tolerant soybean varieties.
  • Herbicide-tolerant crops allow farmers to control weeds more easily.

post-emergent herbicide

1
/pˈoʊst ɪmˈɚd͡ʒənt ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
fixed phrase technical

herbicide used on visible weeds

A herbicide that is used after weeds can already be seen above the ground, to kill them.

Examples
  • They chose a post-emergent herbicide to target the weeds already growing in the field.
  • Post-emergent herbicide must be sprayed directly on the leaves of the weeds.

pre-emergent herbicide

1
/pɹˈi ɪmˈɚd͡ʒənt ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
fixed phrase technical

herbicide used before weeds emerge

A herbicide that is used before weed seeds grow above the ground, to stop them from coming up.

Examples
  • Many lawns are treated with a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring.
  • The label explains when to spread the pre-emergent herbicide for best results.

spray herbicide

1
/spɹˈeɪ ˈɚbɪsˌaɪd/
fixed phrase technical

to spray herbicide on an area

To use a machine or bottle to send herbicide out in very small drops over plants or land.

Examples
  • Workers spray herbicide along the roadside to keep weeds down.
  • He accidentally sprayed herbicide on the flower bed instead of the driveway.

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