herb
noun (a herb, herbs)
Everyday
- A herb is a plant whose leaves, seeds or flowers are used to add flavour to food, such as basil, mint, parsley, rosemary and thyme. tree →
- A herb is a plant used to make medicine or tea, such as chamomile or lavender. tree →
- (science) A herb is any small plant with a soft stem, not woody like a tree or bush. tree →
In the lessons
In cooking and food lessons, children grow herbs on windowsills and use them in recipes. In history, people made herbal remedies, though not all of them worked. In science, herbs are non-woody plants. Phrases: «fresh herbs», «dried herbs», «herb garden», «herbal tea».
Examples
- Mum grows herbs on the kitchen windowsill. tree →
- Add some fresh herbs to the soup. tree →
- Mint is a herb that smells fresh. tree →
- We planted a herb garden at school. tree →
- Grandma makes tea from dried herbs. tree →
- Basil is a herb used in pizza sauce. tree →
- See these lovely cabbages and these fresh herbs! tree →
Note
Countable. British English says «a herb» with the h sounded; American English says «an herb» with a silent h («erb»). Herbal medicines can be strong too: never take any without an adult.
In Jewish tradition
Eating the "herb of the field" is part of the curse on Adam. The bitter herbs (maror) are eaten with the Passover lamb and matzah, and at the Seder they recall the bitterness of slavery. In the primary lessons: In cooking and food lessons, children grow herbs on windowsills and use them in recipes. In history, people made herbal remedies, though not all of them worked. In science, herbs are non-woody plants. Phrases: «fresh herbs», «dried herbs», «herb garden», «herbal tea».
Examples
- Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. (Torah GEN.3.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- Every moving thing that liveth shall be for food for you; as the green herb have I given you all. (Torah GEN.9.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Torah EXO.12.8, JPS 1917) tree →
- For they shall soon wither like the grass, and fade as the green herb. (Writings PSA.37.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole field wither? (Prophets JER.12.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. (Writings PRO.15.17, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Countable. British English says «a herb» with the h sounded; American English says «an herb» with a silent h («erb»). Herbal medicines can be strong too: never take any without an adult.
Early Modern English
Meaning
Any green plant, including grass and plants grown for food. tree →
Then and now
Today a herb is a plant such as mint or basil that is used to flavour food. In these texts it means any green plant, as in "herb of the field" and "green herb", which is an old sense.
Examples
- Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. (Torah GEN.3.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- "In the fourth glass is neither herb, bird, nor urchin. (Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen) tree →
- Every moving thing that liveth shall be for food for you; as the green herb have I given you all. (Torah GEN.9.3, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Today: plant.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «herb» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «herb» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «herb» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «herb» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «herb» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «herb» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/herb/