herb
gb/ˈɚb/ us/ˈɚb/
A2
Inglês
~ 9000
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
A2
entity
1
plant used to flavor food
A plant, like basil or parsley, that people use to give food more taste.
Padrão de uso:
use [herb] in/with [food]
Erro comum:
Learners often confuse "herbs" with "spices." Herbs are usually the green leaves of plants used fresh or dried (like parsley or basil), while spices are usually the dried seeds, bark, or roots (like pepper or cinnamon). In American English, the "h" in "herb" is usually silent (/ɜːrb/), but in British English it is pronounced (/hɜːb/).
Sinónimos
seasoning (More general; includes salt, spices, and other flavorings, not only plants called herbs.)
|
culinary herb (More specific and formal; makes clear that the herb is used in cooking.)
Antónimos
unseasoned (Describes food with no added herbs or spices, so it contrasts with food flavored with herbs.)
Colocações
fresh herbs
|dried herbs
|chopped herbs
|herb garden
|herb seasoning
|sprinkle with herbs
Temas
food
|cooking
|daily life
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Add a handful of fresh herbs to the soup just before serving.
- Basil is a classic herb for tomato-based dishes.
- She grows common kitchen herbs like parsley and mint on the balcony.
- The recipe calls for mixed dried herbs and olive oil.
- Sprinkle the fish with chopped herbs before putting it in the oven.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He puts green herbs on the pizza.
- This sauce has many herbs in it.
- We grow small herbs in a pot at home.
- She uses fresh herbs in her cooking every day.
Nome
B2
entity
2
plant used as medicine
A plant that people take as a natural medicine or health product.
Padrão de uso:
take/use [herb] for [health problem]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes think any plant used in medicine is always called an "herb." In scientific writing, people may use more specific terms like the plant’s Latin name or say "medicinal plant" instead. Also, do not confuse "herb" (the plant) with "herbal" (the adjective, as in "herbal tea").
Sinónimos
medicinal plant (More formal and scientific; clearly focuses on medical use.)
|
botanical (Often used in the health industry to mean plant-based medicine; tends to sound more technical or marketing-oriented.)
Antónimos
synthetic drug (A man‑made chemical medicine, contrasted with natural plant-based remedies.)
Colocações
medicinal herbs
|healing herbs
|traditional herbs
|Chinese herbs
|herb supplement
|herb shop
Temas
health
|medicine
|alternative medicine
|science
|daily_life
Exemplos
- Some people take the herb echinacea to help prevent colds.
- The clinic offers treatment with traditional Chinese herbs.
- Always talk to your doctor before using any herb as a remedy.
- This herb is commonly used to improve digestion and reduce bloating.
- The book describes common healing herbs that grow in temperate climates.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- She drinks a tea made from herbs for her stomach.
- Many people use herbs instead of normal medicine.
- He bought an herb from the market to help him sleep.
- These herbs are popular in traditional medicine.
Nome
technical
C1
entity
3
non-woody seed-bearing plant
In science, a plant with a soft green stem that is not woody like a tree or bush.
Erro comum:
Learners usually only know "herb" for cooking and may not realize it has a stricter scientific meaning in botany. In technical texts, this sense does not focus on whether the plant is useful or edible, only on the type of stem and life cycle.
Sinónimos
herbaceous plant (A more explicit technical term; often preferred in scientific writing.)
Antónimos
woody plant (Refers to trees and shrubs with hard, woody stems, which are the opposite of botanical herbs.)
Colocações
annual herb
|perennial herb
|woody herb
|herb layer
|aquatic herb
|herbaceous plant
Temas
science
|biology
|botany
|nature
|education
Exemplos
- The forest floor is covered by a rich layer of small herbs and grasses.
- Researchers recorded every woody species and herb within the study plots.
- This alpine herb completes its life cycle in just one short growing season.
- Many common weeds are actually native herbs in ecological studies.
- The field guide separates trees, shrubs, and herbs into different sections.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- In biology class we learned that an herb has a soft stem.
- This small green plant is an herb, not a tree.
- Some herbs live only one year, and then they die.
- The book shows many herbs that grow in the forest.
Nome
slang
B2
entity
4
uncool, socially awkward person
Slang: a person other people think is not cool or not impressive.
Padrão de uso:
[someone] is a real herb
Erro comum:
Learners may not know this slang meaning at all and assume people are talking about plants. This use is informal, often regional, and can sound dated or specific to certain communities. It should be avoided in formal or polite situations.
Sinónimos
loser (A common insult for an unpopular or unimpressive person; often stronger and more widely understood than "herb" in this sense.)
|
dork (Informal; suggests social awkwardness, sometimes used more playfully than "herb.")
Antónimos
cool (Describes someone seen as fashionable or socially impressive, opposite of a "herb" in this slang use.)
Colocações
a real herb
|such a herb
|act like a herb
|look like a herb
Temas
people
|insults
|slang
|relationships
|communication
|daily_life
Exemplos
- He’s such a herb when he tries to act tough in front of everyone.
- They called him a herb for bragging about things he clearly never did.
- Nobody wants to look like a herb on the first day of school.
- She refuses to date herbs who only talk big online.
- Stop acting like a herb and just be yourself.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- In that movie, the main boy is called a herb at school.
- They think he is a herb because he lies about his life.
- He does not want to look like a herb in front of his friends.
- She says she will not date a herb.
Nome
slang
C1
entity
5
cannabis, especially for smoking
Slang: marijuana (cannabis) that people smoke as a drug.
Padrão de uso:
smoke [herb]
Erro comum:
Learners may misunderstand this slang and think it refers to normal cooking herbs. The meaning is usually clear only from context, especially when used with verbs like "smoke" or in discussions about drugs.
Sinónimos
weed (Very common informal word for marijuana; more widely understood than "herb" in this sense.)
|
ganja (Informal; strongly linked to Rastafarian and reggae culture; may sound more culturally marked than "herb.")
Antónimos
sobriety (Refers to not using drugs or alcohol; opposite in lifestyle or condition to using herb as a drug.)
Colocações
smoke herb
|bag of herb
|good herb
|sell herb
|roll some herb
Temas
drugs
|slang
|crime
|health
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- They sat on the balcony and smoked some herb after the concert.
- The police report said he was arrested for selling herb to teenagers.
- He prefers herb to alcohol when he wants to relax.
- The song’s lyrics make constant references to burning herb.
- She said she stopped using herb because it made her anxious.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He was caught with a small bag of herb.
- The friends sit in the park and smoke herb together.
- Some songs talk about smoking herb every day.
- She does not use herb or any other drugs.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
herb
IPA
GB/ˈɚb/
US/ˈɚb/
Sílabas e acento
herb (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (herb)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: herb
- Plural: herbs
Família de palavras
Forms
herbs
noun
Core family
herbal
adjective B2
Related words
herby
adjective
herbalist
noun
herbivore
noun
Advanced or less common
herbivorous
adjective
herbaceous
adjective
Expressões
fresh herbs
1/fɹˈɛʃ ˈɚbz/
fixed phrase
herbs that are not dried
Herbs that are still green and soft, not dried.
Exemplos
- Always add fresh herbs at the end of cooking so they keep their flavor.
- Fresh herbs make a big difference in this salad.
- She prefers fresh herbs to dried ones whenever they are in season.
herb garden
1/ˈɚb ɡˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
garden where herbs are grown
A small garden where you grow plants like basil, mint, and other herbs.
Exemplos
- She planted a herb garden outside her kitchen door.
- Many apartments now have tiny balcony herb gardens.
- The restaurant grows its own herbs in a rooftop herb garden.
herbs and spices
1/ˈɚbz ˈænd spˈaɪsɪz/
fixed phrase
flavoring plants and seasonings
Herbs and spices used together to give food more taste.
Exemplos
- The dish is simple but full of flavor from fresh herbs and spices.
- Store your herbs and spices in a cool, dark place.
- She buys her herbs and spices in bulk from a local market.
Italian herbs
1/ɪtˈæliən ˈɚbz/
fixed phrase
herb blend for Italian dishes
A group or mix of herbs, like basil and oregano, used in Italian-style food.
Exemplos
- Sprinkle Italian herbs over the pizza before baking.
- The sauce is flavored with garlic and Italian herbs.
- She keeps a jar of dried Italian herbs for quick pasta dinners.
mixed herbs
1/mˈɪkst ˈɚbz/
fixed phrase
blend of dried herbs
A mix of different dried herbs in one packet or jar.
Exemplos
- The recipe calls for a teaspoon of mixed herbs.
- We sprinkled mixed herbs over the roasted vegetables.
- She keeps a jar of mixed herbs next to the stove for quick seasoning.
smoke herb
1/smˈoʊk ˈɚb/
fixed phrase
slang
to smoke cannabis ('herb')
To smoke cannabis (marijuana), using the slang word "herb" for the drug.
Exemplos
- They went behind the building to smoke herb after the show.
- He said he doesn’t smoke herb anymore because of his job.
- The song talks about friends getting together to smoke herb on the weekend.