seed

seed1 [ sid ] noun ***

1. ) count or uncount a small hard part produced by a plant that can grow into a new plant of the same type:

a bag of seeds

sow/plant seed(s): You can sow grass seed to cover the worn patches.

grow something from seed: I grew these herbs from seed.

a ) count or uncount a seed that you eat or use to give flavor to food:

a jar of sesame/sunflower/cumin seeds

b ) count AMERICAN one of the small hard seeds inside a fruit such as an apple or orange. British pip

2. ) count a player or team given a number that shows how likely they are to win a competition:

number one/top seed (=considered most likely to win): number one seed, Pete Sampras

3. ) uncount an old word used in the Bible to mean a man's SEMEN. This word is sometimes used humorously.

a ) an old word used in the Bible to mean all the children, grandchildren, etc. of a particular man

go/run to seed

1. ) to stop looking attractive and healthy, especially because you have not been looking after yourself:

He was not yet fifty, but he was already going to seed.

2. ) if a plant goes or runs to seed, it starts producing seeds after it has produced flowers

sow/plant the seeds of something

to do something that makes a process or feeling start to develop:

The seeds of doubt were already planted in his mind.

=> SOW1

seed

seed 2 [ sid ] verb

1. ) transitive often passive to remove the seeds from a plant or fruit:

Add one red pepper, seeded and chopped.

2. ) transitive usually passive to give a player or team a number showing how likely they are to win a competition:

be seeded third/tenth/7/15 etc.: Australian Patrick Rafter is seeded 14.

3. ) transitive usually passive to put seeds in the ground so that they can grow

4. ) intransitive if a plant seeds, it produces seeds

╾ `seed|ed adjective:

a seeded player