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HERBICIDE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth
Synonyms:
herbicide; weed killer; weedkiller
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("herbicide" is a kind of...):
chemical; chemical substance (material produced by or used in a reaction involving changes in atoms or molecules)
Meronyms (substance of "herbicide"):
arsenic; As; atomic number 33 (a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "herbicide"):
Agent Orange (a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to defoliate forest areas)
atrazine (a synthetic compound derived from triazine that is widely used as an agricultural herbicide)
linuron (a herbicide that kills weeds without harming vegetables)
paraquat (a poisonous yellow solid used in solution as a herbicide)
silvex (a herbicide that is effective in controlling woody plants but is toxic to animals)
simazine (a herbicide used to control weeds (especially among crops))
Context examples:
Is there even such a thing as a healthy plant microbiome in today's agricultural fields, with acres of identical plants assaulted by pesticides and herbicides and fertilizers?
(How do you cultivate a healthy plant microbiome?, National Science Foundation)
Scientists over the years have modified the genetics of soybeans, corn, canola and other crop plants to develop varieties that tolerate specific herbicides and resist insect pests.
(Innovative Approach to Breeding Could Mean Higher Yields and Better Crops, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
They include the pesticide DDT and dioxin, a byproduct of herbicide production and paper bleaching.
(Persistent organic pollutants in maternal blood linked to smaller fetal size, National Institutes of Health)
That could lead to new technologies such as filters for bioremediation, which uses biological molecules to remove herbicides from tainted water, or synthetic matrices to help study human disease or aid tissue engineering to restore, improve or preserve damaged tissues or organs.
(New technique helps engineer water filters, human tissues, National Science Foundation)
Producing sorgoleone in other crops would potentially give those plants the ability to fight weeds and reduce reliance on synthetic herbicides.
(Transferring Sorghum’s Weed-Killing Power to Rice, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Palm oil production can be made less environmentally destructive by reducing the use of fertilisers and avoid using herbicides.
(Greener palm oil possible without sacrificing profit, SciDev.Net)
In addition, a crop that produces its own herbicide potentially would be more efficient—increasing profits for farmers and food processors.
(Transferring Sorghum’s Weed-Killing Power to Rice, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
