duckweed

noun

duck·​weed ˈdək-ˌwēd How to pronounce duckweed (audio)
: a small floating aquatic monocotyledonous plant (family Lemnaceae, the duckweed family)

Examples of duckweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The diet can get costly due to the amount of whole foods and fresh produce (not to mention sourcing and paying for all that duckweed) required to adhere to this nutrition plan, says Piper. Perri O. Blumberg, Men's Health, 29 Mar. 2023 That said, who the heck has all the Mankai duckweed just sitting around? Perri O. Blumberg, Men's Health, 29 Mar. 2023 The red-winged blackbird was selected by McFadden to ease readers outside since these abounding birds can also be found in duckweed swamps and soggy roadsides as well as atop telephone wires. oregonlive, 22 Mar. 2021 For a hunter, cute is a Lab with a bird in his mouth, coat spackled with duckweed, paws slimed with mud. Kyle Wintersteen, Field & Stream, 30 Jan. 2023 Scientists have learned that duckweed can produce almost the same amount of protein as soybeans, soak up heavy metals and be revived after months or years in a freezer, Harkess said in 2020. Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, 23 Jan. 2023 Wageningen University is already collaborating with several companies in the Netherlands to introduce duckweed to consumers. Marta Zaraska, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2019 Fish can’t survive there because duckweed depletes the oxygen that aquatic life needs to survive, Hulke said. Gloria Casas, chicagotribune.com, 26 Nov. 2021 The drama is heightened by the blanket of duckweed that has turned the placid, still water a surreal shade of green. Washington Post, 7 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'duckweed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of duckweed was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near duckweed

Cite this Entry

“Duckweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duckweed. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

duckweed

noun
duck·​weed ˈdək-ˌwēd How to pronounce duckweed (audio)
: a tiny stemless plant that floats without attachment on the surface of a body of still water (as a pond)

More from Merriam-Webster on duckweed

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!