seed
gb/sˈid/ us/sˈid/
A2
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
plant reproductive unit
A small part from a plant that can grow into another plant.
Usage pattern:
a [type] seed
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'seed' with 'pit' or 'stone' (hard center of some fruits).
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.)
Collocations
plant seeds
|sunflower seeds
|seed packet
|scatter seeds
Themes
nature
|biology
|gardening
Examples
- Farmers plant seeds in the spring.
- The apple has several small seeds inside.
- She bought tomato seeds for her garden.
- Birds were eating the seeds from the feeder.
Learner examples
- I put seeds in the soil.
- This fruit has many seeds.
- We plant seeds in the garden.
- Seeds can grow into big plants.
Noun
B2
entity
2
starting point of idea
The first small part of an idea or plan.
Usage pattern:
the seed of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is figurative and try to interpret it literally as a plant seed.
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.)
Collocations
seeds of doubt
|seeds of change
|seeds of conflict
Themes
ideas
|metaphor
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- That comment planted the seed of doubt in my mind.
- The meeting was the seed of their partnership.
- Her book planted the seed for a new movement.
Learner examples
- He gave me the seed of an idea.
- A small talk was the seed of a big plan.
- This is the seed of change.
Verb
B1
action
3
to plant seeds
To put seeds into soil so they can grow.
Usage pattern:
to seed [a field/garden]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'seed' with 'plant', not realizing 'plant' can mean placing a whole young plant, not seeds.
Synonyms
sow (A slightly more formal or agricultural term for planting seeds.)
Antonyms
harvest (To gather mature crops, opposite of planting.)
Collocations
seed a lawn
|seed the field
|seed tray
Themes
gardening
|farming
|nature
Examples
- They seeded the field with wheat.
- We need to seed the lawn before winter.
- Gardeners often seed trays indoors in early spring.
Learner examples
- We seed the garden in April.
- He seeded the field yesterday.
- Farmers seed their land in spring.
Noun
technical
B2
relation
4
ranked tournament position
A number showing how strong a player or team is in a competition.
Usage pattern:
[number]-seeded [player/team]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'seed' here with planting; context in sports is different.
Synonyms
ranking (General term for position; 'seed' is specific to tournaments.)
Antonyms
unseeded player (A competitor without a ranking in the draw.)
Collocations
top seed
|number one seed
|seeded player
Themes
sports
Examples
- She is the top seed at Wimbledon this year.
- The number two seed lost in the first round.
- An unseeded player reached the finals.
Learner examples
- He is the top seed in the match.
- The second seed won the game.
- She plays against an unseeded player.
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.