Refine this word faster
Ragweed
//ˈɹæɡˌwid// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A plant of the genus Ambrosia. These weeds are particularly noted for producing pollen that triggers hay fever. countable, uncountable
"Fig. 1.—Spiculated pollens of ragweeds (ambrosias) low in protein. […] In the cocklebur (Xanthium americanum) and the rough wild elder (Iva ciliata), the spicules are shorter, being 0.7 and 0.5 microns, and the reaction is proportionately less active than with the ragweeds (ambrosias). […] While the grass pollens have so light a coat that they are frequently crushed in the ordinary process of mounting, the ragweed (ambrosias) pollen grains resist pressure between two glass slides carried to the point of crushing the glass."
- 2 any of numerous chiefly North American weedy plants constituting the genus Ambrosia that produce highly allergenic pollen responsible for much hay fever and asthma wordnet
- 3 A summer cypress, mock cypress (Bassia scoparia). countable, uncountable
- 4 widespread European weed having yellow daisylike flowers; sometimes an obnoxious weed and toxic to cattle if consumed in quantity wordnet
Etymology
From rag + weed. Compare Middle English ragwed (“butcher's broom”).
See also for "ragweed"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: ragweed