si:d n. & v. --n. 1 a a
flowering plant's
unit of
reproduction (esp. in
the form of grain)
capable of developing
into another such plant. b seeds collectively,
esp. as collected
for sowing (is full of seed; to be
kept for seed). 2 a
semen. b
milt. 3 (foll. by of) prime
cause,
beginning,
germ (seeds of doubt). 4
archaic offspring,
progeny, descendants (the seed of Abraham). 5
Sport a seeded
player. 6 a
small seedlike
container for the
application of
radium etc. 7 a seed
crystal. --v. 1 tr. a
place seeds
in. b
sprinkle with or as with seed. 2 intr. sow seeds. 3 intr.
produce or
drop seed. 4 tr.
remove seeds
from (fruit etc.). 5 tr. place a crystal or
crystalline substance in (a
solution etc.) to cause crystallization or
condensation (esp. in a
cloud to produce rain). 6 tr. Sport a
assign to (a
strong competitor in a
knockout competition) a
position in an ordered list so
that strong competitors do
not meet
each other in
early rounds (is seeded seventh). b
arrange (the
order of play) in
this way. 7 intr. go to seed. øgo (or run) to seed 1
cease flowering as seed develops. 2
become degenerate,
unkempt,
ineffective, etc.
raise up seed archaic
beget children. seed-bed 1 a
bed of fine soil in
which to sow seeds. 2 a place of
development. seed-cake
cake containing
whole seeds esp. of
caraway as
flavouring. seed-coat the
outer integument of a seed. seed-corn 1
good quality corn kept for seed. 2 assets reused for
future profit or
benefit. seed crystal a crystal used to
initiate crystallization. seed-eater a
bird (esp. a finch)
living mainly on seeds. seed-fish a fish that is
ready to
spawn. seed-leaf a
cotyledon. seed-lip a
basket for seed in sowing by
hand. seed
money money allocated to initiate a
project. seed-pearl a
very small pearl. seed-plot a place of development. seed-potato a
potato kept for seed. seed-time the sowing
season. seed-vessel a
pericarp. øøseedless adj. [OE sód f. Gmc, rel. to SOW(1)]
