herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb
b
of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season
2
: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Fresh rosemary infuses each sip with fresh, herbaceous flavor. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 An aspiring mixologist will probably love the Carriere Freres absinthe candle, which has a heady, herbaceous scent that calls to mind the green fairy. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 4 Dec. 2023 The Lunaria annua, sometimes called the honesty flower, money plant, silver dollar, or dollar plant, is an herbaceous biennial (meaning the next year, the seeds germinate and produce small plants) in the mustard family. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 The hop plant is a fast-growing, herbaceous perennial, native to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Barb Sands, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024 The tender fish practically melted in my mouth and was punctuated by herbaceous bursts from the salad and tangy vinaigrette. The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2024 The filling is more herbaceous than beefy, with wisps of egg bringing a greasy whisper of diner omelet flavor. The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024 Most herbaceous perennials spend the winter just a few inches below the soil surface and even though soil is a good insulator, the ground often freezes — so these plants aren’t avoiding freezing. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 19 Jan. 2024 Perennials, in the world of horticulture, are also referred to as herbaceous plants. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 13 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'herbaceous.' 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

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbaceous was in 1640

Dictionary Entries Near herbaceous

Cite this Entry

“Herbaceous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbaceous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective
her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs How to pronounce herbaceous (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or resembling an herb
2
: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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