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Herb Very Common

Herb has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests

"The gardener carefully weeded out the invasive thistle, noting that while it is technically an herbaceous plant, its presence as a pest threatened all the valuable flowering herbs in his border."

2

aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities

"The chef chopped fresh thyme and rosemary to add a savory depth to the simmering stew."

3

Any green, leafy plant, or parts thereof, used to flavour or season food.

"She added a sprig of fresh basil to the soup to enhance its flavor."

In plain English: An herb is any plant part, usually leaves or flowers, that people use to add flavor and scent to food instead of meat or vegetables.

"I added fresh basil and parsley to my soup for extra flavor."

Usage: Use this word specifically for plants added in small quantities to enhance the taste of dishes rather than as main ingredients like vegetables. It refers only to fresh leaves and stems; dried versions are typically called spices unless they retain a leafy character.

Proper Noun
1

A diminutive of the male given name Herbert

"Herb was surprised to find that his old friend, Herb, had been promoted to manager."

Example Sentences
"I added fresh basil and parsley to my soup for extra flavor." noun
"She added fresh basil to her soup for extra flavor." noun
"The garden is full of colorful herbs growing in the sun." noun
"He used dried oregano as an herb seasoning on his pizza." noun
Related Terms
thyme leadwort herb tea bunchflower sweetgrass herbwoman flavor sweet wormwood sapsago rosemarylike vodka sauce phyllon rattlebox herbary vegetable garden yarb sheep's bit marsh thistle coriander ambrosia
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
vascular plant flavorer
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
barrenwort mayapple buttercup goldthread winter aconite hepatica goldenseal false rue anemone giant buttercup false bugbane globeflower legume clover periwinkle arum ginseng American ginseng wild ginger heartleaf caryophyllaceous plant mouse-ear chickweed drypis coral necklace chickweed New Zealand spinach amaranth thorny amaranth red fox cockscomb cottonweed goosefoot orach halogeton barilla glasswort pokeweed purslane rock purslane Indian lettuce spiderflower clammyweed crucifer stonecress horseradish hoary alison sea-rocket sea kale tansy mustard wall rocket white rocket draba rocket tansy-leaved rocket woad bladderpod honesty chamois cress hedge mustard fringepod wasabi prickly poppy bloodroot fumitory bleeding heart Dutchman's breeches squirrel corn achillea white snakeroot pellitory andryala ladies' tobacco cat's foot arnica lamb succory ayapana balsamroot Indian plantain safflower chamomile chaenactis chicory endive coreopsis leopard's-bane globe thistle elephant's-foot tassel flower hemp agrimony dog fennel Joe-Pye weed boneset gumweed vegetable sheep sneezeweed hawkweed alpine coltsfoot inula krigia lettuce leopard plant tarweed sweet false chamomile pineapple weed rattlesnake root lion's foot butterweed golden groundsel butterbur winter heliotrope sweet coltsfoot stevia pteropogon fleabane sheep plant creeping zinnia costusroot black salsify sawwort milk thistle costmary camphor dune tansy pyrethrum feverfew dandelion salsify wild vanilla scentless camomile turfing daisy coltsfoot ironweed loasa campanula primrose pimpernel sea milkwort loosestrife plumbago gramineous plant herbage bur reed lobelia okra vegetable simple galax wintergreen pipsissewa one-flowered wintergreen columbo green gentian marsh felwort bloodwort kangaroo paw willowherb evening primrose canna maranta banana Abyssinian banana bird of paradise ginger turmeric grains of paradise cardamom reseda viola false nettle pellitory-of-the-wall kniphofia asparagus asparagus fern aspidistra climbing onion plantain lily herb Paris pia flax wild senna kidney vetch crotalaria prairie mimosa goat's rue licorice wild licorice winged pea medic sainfoin shamrock pea breadroot bush pea bird's foot trefoil fenugreek plantain buckwheat rhubarb dock spiderwort pineapple agrimonia strawberry salad burnet bedstraw feverroot teasel jewelweed geranium oxalis rue fraxinella nasturtium carnivorous plant Australian pitcher plant sedum saxifrage astilbe bergenia umbrella plant alumroot miterwort suksdorfia foamflower pickaback plant polemonium phlox acanthus borage common amsinckia large-flowered fiddleneck anchusa Chinese forget-me-not hound's-tongue blueweed stickweed gromwell puccoon hoary puccoon Virginia bluebell garden forget-me-not forget-me-not false gromwell comfrey gesneria waterleaf yellow bells nemophila baby blue-eyes fiesta flower basil thyme giant hyssop bugle black horehound wood mint calamint wild basil horse balm coleus dragonhead elsholtzia hemp nettle pennyroyal hyssop dead nettle dagga lion's-ear motherwort bugleweed water horehound gipsywort origanum horehound lemon balm mint yerba buena savory molucca balm monarda mustang mint catmint basil beefsteak plant physostegia self-heal mountain mint rosemary sage skullcap blue pimpernel hedge nettle thyme martynia sesame common unicorn plant sand devil's claw sweet unicorn plant false foxglove foxglove mullein eggplant belladonna henbane Egyptian henbane tomato mandrake apple of Peru tobacco cupflower ground cherry salpiglossis Scopolia carniolica herb mercury dog's mercury spurge nettle umbellifer dill angelica chervil cow parsley wild celery celery celeriac astrantia caraway earthnut coriander cumin carrot button snakeroot fennel cow parsnip lovage sweet cicely parsnip parsley anise sanicle moon carrot stone parsley Alexander corn salad wort peperomia yerba mansa asclepiad milkweed stapelia fines herbes bay leaf chives marjoram sweet woodruff tarragon tea

Origin

The word herb comes from Old French erbe via Middle English, ultimately tracing back to the Latin herba. Although an 'h' was added to its spelling in the 15th century based on the original Latin form, this letter remained silent for centuries and is still often dropped by modern speakers.

Rhyming Words
erb verb ferb gerb serb kerb acerb imberb superb adverb reverb diverb coverb potherb cowherb converb preverb proverb pro verb pan serb
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