Collins English-English Dictionary

seed [siːd]

1. 1. n [Botany] a mature fertilized plant ovule, consisting of an embryo and its food store surrounded by a protective seed coat (testa)

2. 2. n the small hard seedlike fruit of plants such as wheat

3. 3. n (loosely) any propagative part of a plant, such as a tuber, spore, or bulb

4. 4. n such parts collectively

5. 5. n the source, beginning, or germ of anything

   the seeds of revolt

6. 6. n [chiefly Bible] offspring or descendants

   the seed of Abraham

7. 7. n an archaic or dialect term for sperm

8. 8. n [sport] a seeded player

9. 9. n the egg cell or cells of the lobster and certain other animals

10. 10. n See seed oyster

11. 11. n [chem] a small crystal added to a supersaturated solution or supercooled liquid to induce crystallization

12. 12. vb to plant (seeds, grain, etc) in (soil)

    we seeded this field with oats

13. 13. vi. [intr] (of plants) to form or shed seeds

14. 14. vt. [tr] to remove the seeds from (fruit, etc)

15. 15. vt. [tr] [chem] to add a small crystal to (a supersaturated solution or supercooled liquid) in order to cause crystallization

16. 16. vt. [tr] to scatter certain substances, such as silver iodide, in (clouds) in order to cause rain

17. 17. vt. [tr] to arrange (the draw of a tournament) so that outstanding teams or players will not meet in the early rounds

18. 18. vt. to distribute (players or teams) in this manner

19. 19. vt. [Etymology] Old English sæd; related to Old Norse sath, Gothic seths, Old High German sat