Word
herbaceous
Phoneticsherba·ceous
US/ɝˈbeɪʃəs/
UK/hɜːbˈeɪʃəs/
Definition
adj. describing plants that have soft, green stems that die back in the winter. These plants usually grow from the ground up each year.
adj. relating to or consisting of plants with non-woody stems that die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. Often used in botanical or horticultural contexts to distinguish from woody shrubs or trees.
Examples
“The garden is full of colorful herbaceous plants.”
“Gardeners often divide herbaceous perennials in the autumn to encourage healthier growth the following spring.”
“The landscape was dominated by a diverse array of herbaceous species, their vibrant foliage providing a striking contrast to the sparse, evergreen shrubs that lined the perimeter of the field.”
Examples
simple
“The garden is full of colorful herbaceous plants.”
contextual
“Gardeners often divide herbaceous perennials in the autumn to encourage healthier growth the following spring.”
complex
“The landscape was dominated by a diverse array of herbaceous species, their vibrant foliage providing a striking contrast to the sparse, evergreen shrubs that lined the perimeter of the field.”
Real-World Examples
“Some of the garden's woody plants may leaf out again this autumn—or, if they are herbaceous, throw up new shoots from the soil.” “These flavors can range from damp soil to woody, herbaceous notes and sometimes even hints of minerals.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin herbāceus (“grassy”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/herbaceous