herbicide
UK: /ˈhɜː.bɪ.saɪd/ | US: /ˈɜːr.bɪ.saɪd/
n. a chemical substance used to kill or inhibit the growth of plants, especially weeds.
herbicide = herb<plant> + cide<kill>
- herb (from Latin herba, meaning "grass, green crops, plant")
- cide (from Latin -cida, meaning "killer," derived from caedere, "to cut or kill")
Etymology Origin:
The word herbicide combines herb (referring to plants) and -cide (denoting killing), creating a term for substances that destroy unwanted vegetation. Latin roots herba and caedere evolved into French and later English, reflecting agriculture's need for precise terminology. The logic is straightforward: "plant-killer."
Farmers use herbicide to control invasive weeds in their fields.
The environmental impact of herbicide runoff is a growing concern.
This herbicide targets broadleaf plants without harming grasses.
Organic farming avoids synthetic herbicides.
The new herbicide formula is designed to degrade faster in soil.