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Glite Dictionary
broom-weed

broom-weed

9.9
An annual plant found in the dry American southwest with stiff woody branches, sticky leaves, and yellow flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈbruːmˌwiːd/
  • US
translation icon : hierba de la escoba
  • We identified the plant as broom-weed due to its sticky leaves and woody branches.

Examples

  • Large fields of broom-weed turn yellow when the flowers are in full bloom.

  • The rancher struggled to control the spread of broom-weed on his property.

  • The broom-weed grows abundantly in the desert.

  • Many gardeners dislike broom-weed for its sticky leaves.

  • In spring, the fields are filled with broom-weed that brightens the landscape with its yellow flowers.

  • The gardener noticed that the broom-weed spread quickly in the warm climate of the southwestern United States.

  • During our hike, we came across a patch of broom-weed, easily recognizing it by its sticky foliage and woody branches.

Synonyms

broomweed
vsbroom-weed
  • Specialized
9.9

A small annual plant with stiff branches, sticky leaves, and yellow flowers

is identical in meaning but written with a hyphen
Gutierrezia texana
vsbroom-weed
  • Specialized
9.9

A small annual plant with sticky leaves and yellow flowers that grows in dry soil

describes the plant without stressing native origin

Surface Forms

broom-weed singular
broom-weeds plural

Morphology

broom-weed = broom + weed (transparent) = broom + weed

A straightforward compound of 'broom' + 'weed' whose basic meaning ('a weed related to or resembling broom') is directly inferable from the parts.

Etymology

Broom-weed comes from broom, a stiff shrub once used to make brooms and remembered as 'a plant used to sweep', plus weed, meaning 'a wild plant'. So the name helps you remember that broom-weed is a woody, wild plant with stiff branches and yellow flowers.