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1[countable, uncountable] the small hard part produced by a plant, from which a new plant can grow a packet of wild flower seeds sesame seeds an apple seed Sow the seeds outdoors in spring. These vegetables can be grown from seed. seed potatoes (= used for planting) Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
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beginning - 2[countable, usually plural] seed (of something) the beginning of a feeling or a development that continues to grow the seeds of rebellion This planted the seeds of doubt in my mind.
- 3[countable] (in sports, especially tennis) one of the best players or teams in a competition. The seeds are given a position in a list to try and make sure that they do not play each other in the early parts of the competition The top seed won comfortably. the number one seed of a man
- 4[uncountable] (old-fashioned or humorous) semen
- 5[uncountable] (literary) all the people who are the children, grandchildren, etc. of one man Idioms
- 1(especially of a vegetable plant) to produce flowers and seeds as well as leaves The lettuces had all run to seed.
- 2to become much less attractive or good because of lack of attention After his divorce, he let himself go to seed.
of plants/fruit
to start the process that leads to a particular situation or result In this way he sowed the seeds of his own success.
Check pronunciation: seed