[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/seed/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / seed # seed noun, verb (seed, seeds, seeded, seeding) «seed» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A seed is the small hard part of a plant that can grow into a new plant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#m1) 2. Seeds are also the small pips inside fruit, like apple seeds or melon seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#m2) 3. To seed a field is to plant seeds in it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#m3) 4. In sport a seed is a strong player placed so that top players do not meet early in a tournament. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#m4) 5. «The seed of an idea» is where an idea starts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#m5) 6. In some dialect speech, seed is written for see or seen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#m6) ### In the lessons Science: a seed needs water, warmth and air to germinate (start to grow); seeds are spread by wind, water and animals. Gardening: plant seeds in rows, a packet of seeds, seed trays. In maths they are things counted: seeds planted in rows, packets of seeds, seeds that grow and seeds that do not. Food: sunflower seeds, sesame seeds. ### Examples - She planted 5 rows of 8 seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x1) - A packet has 30 seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x2) - Only 24 of the seeds grew. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x3) - How many seeds are in 4 packets? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x4) - A tiny acorn is the seed of a huge oak tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x5) - Birds eat the seeds from the sunflower heads. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x6) - Spit out the watermelon seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x7) - The wind carries dandelion seeds far away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x8) - She was the top seed in the tennis tournament. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x9) - You oughter seed dat toof, boss. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/#x10) ### Note Countable: a seed, seeds. Rows × seeds per row, packets × seeds per packet; seeds that grew + seeds that did not = all. Trap: «seeds» and «plants» may not be the same number, since not every seed grows. Do not confuse «seed» with «cede» (give up) — they sound alike. Myth: swallowing a fruit seed does not make a tree grow in your tummy. ## In Jewish tradition God promises the land to Abraham and "his seed," meaning all his later family. The prophets use it for a people's character, such as "a seed of falsehood," and Malachi speaks of a "seed given of God," meaning children raised to serve Him. **Interpretation.** The promise to the seed is the heart of the covenant with the patriarchs. Tradition reads "seed" as the whole Jewish people through the ages. Malachi's verse is read as God's wish for faithful children. ### Examples - Lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. (Torah GEN.47.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/#x1) - The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. (Torah GEN.28.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/#x2) - 'As for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you, and with your seed after you; (Torah GEN.9.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/#x3) - Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, (Prophets ISA.57.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/#x4) - For what seeketh the one? a seed given of God. (Prophets MAL.2.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/#x5) - His soul shall abide in prosperity; and his seed shall inherit the land. (Writings PSA.25.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/#x6) ### Note Countable: a seed, seeds. Rows × seeds per row, packets × seeds per packet; seeds that grew + seeds that did not = all. Trap: «seeds» and «plants» may not be the same number, since not every seed grows. Do not confuse «seed» with «cede» (give up) — they sound alike. Myth: swallowing a fruit seed does not make a tree grow in your tummy. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning The children and later family of a person, the people who come after them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/seed/#m1) ### Then and now Today seed means the small part of a plant that grows into a new plant. The Torah and Sefer Yetzirah sentences use the old sense of children. The Uncle Remus sentence uses seed as dialect spelling of see. ### Examples - Lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. (Torah GEN.47.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/seed/#x1) - You oughter seed dat toof, boss. (Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/seed/#x2) - He returned him to his bosom and kissed him upon the head, and called him, “My beloved,” and cut a covenant for him and his seed. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/seed/#x3) ### Note Today: children, descendants. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «seed» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/seed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«seed» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/seed.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «seed» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/seed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«seed» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/seed.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «seed» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/S/seed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«seed» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/seed.html) on Mova free.