- [countable, uncountable] the small hard part produced by a plant, from which a new plant can grow
- a packet of wild flower seeds
- sesame seeds
- Sow the seeds outdoors in spring.
- Plant the seeds 10cm apart.
- These vegetables can be grown from seed.
- seed potatoes (= used for planting)
Collocations The living worldThe living worldAnimalssee also birdseed- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbour bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
Extra ExamplesTopics Farmingb1, Gardensb1, Plants and treesb1- Each fruit usually contains a single seed.
- Most seeds are spread by the wind.
- Peel the peppers and remove the seeds.
- This tree produces very hard seeds.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- grass
- mustard
- poppy
- …
- packet
- plant
- sow
- produce
- …
- germinate
- grow
- sprout
- …
- head
- pod
- packet
- …
- a variety of seeds
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- (North American English) (also pip especially in British English)[countable] the small hard seed that is found in some types of fruit
- [countable, usually plural] seed (of something) the beginning of a feeling or development that continues to grow
- the seeds of rebellion
- This planted the seeds of doubt in my mind.
- He argued that capitalism contained the seeds of its own destruction.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- grass
- mustard
- poppy
- …
- packet
- plant
- sow
- produce
- …
- germinate
- grow
- sprout
- …
- head
- pod
- packet
- …
- a variety of seeds
- [countable] (especially in tennis) one of the best players in a competition. The seeds are given a position in a list to try and make sure that they do not play each other in the early parts of the competition.
- The top seed won comfortably.
- the number one seed
- She was the top seed at the US Open this year.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- first
- second
- etc.
- …
- [uncountable] (old-fashioned or humorous) semen
- [uncountable] (literary) all the people who are the children, grandchildren, etc. of one man
of plants/fruit
beginning
in tennis
of a man
Word OriginOld English sǣd, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zaad, German Saat, also to sow1.
Idioms
See seed in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee seed in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishgo/run to seed
- (especially of a vegetable plant) to produce flowers and seeds as well as leaves
- The lettuces had all run to seed.
- Cutting weeds before they go to seed will greatly reduce future weed problems.
- to become much less attractive or good because of lack of attention
- After his divorce, he let himself go to seed.
sow the seeds of something
- to start the process that leads to a particular situation or result
- In this way he sowed the seeds of his own success.
Check pronunciation:
seed