milkweed
|milk-weed|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈmɪlkˌwid/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɪlkˌwiːd/
plant with milky sap
Etymology
Etymology Information
'milkweed' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'milc' meaning 'milk' and 'wēod' meaning 'weed', referring to the plant's milky sap.
Historical Evolution
'milc' and 'wēod' combined to form the Middle English word 'milkwede', which eventually became the modern English word 'milkweed'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any plant with milky sap, but over time it evolved to specifically denote plants of the genus Asclepias.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a plant of the genus Asclepias, known for its milky sap and role as a host plant for monarch butterflies.
The monarch butterfly lays its eggs on milkweed plants.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/08 13:42