Standard Lemma guide

witchweed

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any of several flowering plants of the genus Striga, from Africa and Asia, some of which are parasitic to crops.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • 1968, (U.S.) National Research Council: Committee on Plant and Animal Pests: Subcommittee on Weeds, Principles of Plant and Animal Pest Control, Volume 2: Weed Control, National Academy of Sciences Publication 1597, page 43, The witchweed-suppression program is a classic example of a systems approach to weed management and represents one of the finest organized efforts in the United States to eradicate a weed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque of translingual Striga (literally “witch”). By surface analysis, witch + weed.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bambara: sɛgɛnin — Striga hermonthica
  • Dagbani: wubilim — Striga hermonthica
  • Muyang: mimiz — Striga hermonthica