What does "herb" mean?
Any green, leafy plant, or parts thereof, used to flavour or season food.
Herb
/(h)ɝb/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any green, leafy plant, or parts thereof, used to flavour or season food.
- Grammar: herb is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: herbaceous plant, algae, angelica, autophyte.
- Useful contrasts: acacia, arariba, banian.
- Usage evidence: The herb used in that pasta sauce might be parsley.
How to use "herb"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "herb" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "herb" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "herb" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "herb" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "herb" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "herbaceous plant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "herb", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any green, leafy plant, or parts thereof, used to flavour or season food. countable
- 2 aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities wordnet
- 3 A plant whose roots, leaves or seeds, etc. are used in medicine. countable
"If any medicinal herbs used by witches were supposedly evil, then how come people from at least the past benefited from the healing properties of such herbs?"
- 4 a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests wordnet
- 5 Cannabis. slang, uncountable
"The room was thick and sour with the smell of herb."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A plant whose stem is not woody and does not persist beyond each growing season countable
- 7 Grass; herbage. obsolete, uncountable
"flocks grazing the tender herb"
- 8 (always with pronounced /h/) A lame or uncool person. US, countable, slang
"George (AO) describes the tie between fighting and respect: 'Cause some people could come up to you and say, “Ah, he's a herb, he can't fight. He's nothing.”"
Proper Noun
- 1 A diminutive of the male given name Herbert.
"Herb and Greta poured through “name” books and the only name they could agree on was “Rosalie.” Greta told Herb that she didn't want her daughter's name to end in a “lie,” and so they named her Rosalee."
Example
"The herb used in that pasta sauce might be parsley."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "herb"?
Common synonyms include: herbaceous plant, algae, angelica, autophyte, balm, balsam.
How do you use "herb" in a sentence?
The herb used in that pasta sauce might be parsley.
How do you pronounce "herb"?
Pronounced /(h)ɝb/.
Etymology
From Middle English herbe, erbe, from Old French erbe (French herbe), from Latin herba. Initial h was restored to the spelling in the 15th century on the basis of Latin, but it remained mute until the 19th century and still is for many speakers. Doublet of yerba.