waterweed
|wa-ter-weed|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɑtərwiːd/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɔːtəwiːd/
aquatic plant regarded as a weed
Etymology
'waterweed' originates from English as a compound of 'water' and 'weed'; 'water' ultimately comes from Old English 'wæter' meaning 'water', and 'weed' comes from Old English 'wēod' meaning 'herb, plant, or weed'.
'waterweed' was formed in post-medieval English by combining the words 'water' and 'weed' and came into use as a common name for submerged aquatic plants (for example Elodea) in modern English.
Initially, the compound simply meant 'a weed that grows in water' and over time it has retained that basic sense while sometimes being used more specifically for certain genera (e.g. Elodea) or invasive aquatic plants.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a submerged aquatic plant (often of the genus Elodea) that commonly grows in ponds, streams, and other freshwater bodies; sometimes invasive.
Waterweed clogged the pond's outlet, slowing the flow.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/16 01:38