Definition

A type of plant that belongs to the genus Ambrosia, known for its small green flowers and for producing a lot of pollen, which can cause allergies like hay fever.

Example

During the summer, ragweed pollen can trigger allergic reactions in many people.

Conversation

I heard that ragweed is really bad this time of year.

Yeah, I've been sneezing a lot lately because of it.

Same here! I didn’t realize how much it affected me until now.

I know, right? It's the worst when you're trying to enjoy the outdoors.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ragweed is formed from "rag" (from Old English *ragga*, meaning a shred or tatter) and "weed" (from Old English *wēod*, meaning a plant or herb). The word refers to a plant that is often considered a nuisance or undesirable, hence the combination of rag (shredded or tattered) and weed (a plant).

Memory Tip

Think of 'rag' as something torn or tattered, and 'weed' as an unwanted plant. This helps you remember that ragweed refers to a plant that is often seen as a nuisance.

Visually Confused Words