Definition

A type of plant that has a strong smell and produces yellow flowers, commonly found in western America and Chile.

Example

The tarweed blooms beautifully in the summer, attracting many pollinators.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a tarweed plant before?

No, I haven't! What do they look like?

They have these yellow flowers and a really strong smell.

Sounds interesting! I’d love to check one out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tarweed → The word is formed from "tar" (from Old English *tær*, meaning a sticky substance) and "weed" (from Old English *wēod*, meaning a plant or herb). Tarweed refers to a plant that produces a sticky substance, resembling tar.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'sticky substance' ('tar') combined with a 'plant' ('weed') — that's why tarweed is a plant that has a sticky quality.

Visually Confused Words