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self-sowed

self-sowed

7.4
A plant that grows from seed on its own
  • adjective
  • /sɛlf-soʊd/
translation icon : autosembrado
  • Several self-sowed sunflowers appeared in the garden this spring.
  • self-sown seedlings

Examples

  • The meadow was full of self-sowed poppies from last year’s crop.

  • Wildflowers often become self-sowed after a season of strong winds.

  • The garden is full of self-sowed flowers.

  • Many plants in my backyard are self-sowed this year.

  • In my garden, I love to see self-sowed wildflowers that sprout every spring without any help from me.

  • The bright yellow daisies are self-sowed and appear in unexpected places each year.

  • These self-sowed herbs grow freely in the cracks of the pavement, adding beauty to the urban landscape.

Synonyms

self-seeded
vsself-sowed
6.4

A plant that grows naturally from seeds dropped without people planting it

is focused on seeds germinating rather than on seed falling

Surface Forms

self-sowed positive

Morphology

self-sowed = sow (transparent) = self + sow + ed

The components 'self-' (by itself) + 'sow' + '-ed' yield the literal meaning 'sown by itself', which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Self-sowed breaks into self- ('by itself') and sowed from the verb sow ('to plant seed'), so it describes plants that have 'planted themselves' and grown without people planting them.