herb
//hɜːb//
Forms
- Plural
- herbs
Definitions
1.A plant whose stem is not woody and does not persist beyond each growing season.
2.Any green, leafy plant, or parts thereof, used to flavour or season food.
3.A plant whose roots, leaves or seeds, etc. are used in medicine.
- 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.Cannabis.(slang)
- The room was thick and sour with the smell of herb.
- You think he's got any herb?
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4464
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
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.