herb

noun

ˈərb How to pronounce herb (audio)
 US also and British usually  ˈhərb
often attributive
1
botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season
2
: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities
planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden
3
herblike adjective
herby adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs rosemary, sage, and other herbs
Recent Examples on the Web The dish is often flavored with garlic, onion, or herbs. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Start annual herbs and flower seeds including borage, basil, calendula, sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias and cosmos. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Vegetarian options: Several, including eggplant parmigiana, and spaghetti tossed with raw tomatoes, herbs and olive oil. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024 The farm now grows more than 250 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers, that go into the prepared foods, honey and condiments that are sold at the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market and online. John Wogan Juliet Izon Gisela Williams Lindsey Tramuta Julia Halperin Jameson Montgomery, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Herbivorous slugs eat flowers, vegetables, herbs, wild mushrooms, and a wide variety of shoots and young plants. Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 29 Feb. 2024 Balcones Rye Bottled in Bond: is the newest to our line and pairs so well with chocolate, coffee, and herbs or in any classic cocktail calling for a rye whiskey. Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Fibrous foods and phytonutrients existing in fruit, veg and herbs are a great source of prebiotics. Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 Then, refuel with nourishing meals featuring local ingredients (the property grows 500 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and florals) and hit the hot springs to soothe your sore muscles. Julia Eskins, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of herb was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near herb

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

herb

noun
1
: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season
2
: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun
often attributive
1
: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season
2
: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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