Definition

A type of plant that has small, barbed fruits which can stick to clothing or animal fur.

Example

Be careful when walking through the field; the stickseed plants can attach themselves to your clothes.

Conversation

Have you ever had to deal with stickseed when hiking?

Oh yes, those things are so annoying!

I always end up bringing some home on my clothes.

Same here! They really know how to cling on.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Stickseed → The word is formed from "stick" (from Old English *sticca*, meaning a small branch or twig) and "seed" (from Old English *sǣd*, meaning the reproductive part of a plant). The term "stickseed" refers to the seeds of certain plants that stick to clothing or fur due to their barbed or sticky nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine small seeds that 'stick' to you like twigs do — that's why 'stickseed' describes seeds that cling.

Visually Confused Words