Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
neem seed

neem seed

7.3
A seed from the neem tree used to make natural insect spray, plant food, and medicine
  • noun
  • Indian
translation icon : semilla de neem
  • The oil extracted from neem seed is widely used as a natural pesticide.

Examples

  • Traditional medicine sometimes includes preparations made from neem seed to treat skin conditions.

  • Farmers often add crushed neem seed to compost to improve soil quality.

  • The neem seed is known for its medicinal properties.

  • Farmers often use neem seeds as a natural pesticide.

  • Farmers often add crushed neem seed to compost to improve soil quality.

  • The oil extracted from neem seed is widely used as a natural pesticide.

  • Traditional medicine sometimes includes preparations made from neem seed to treat skin conditions.

Surface Forms

neem seed singular
neem seeds plural

Morphology

neem + seed

The meaning 'the seed of the neem tree' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'neem' (a tree used in medicine) with 'seed' (a plant part). This is a straightforward noun+noun compositional pattern (equivalent to 'seed of X') found across languages and involves no idiomatic or metaphorical shift, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Neem seed comes from a tree people have used for many jobs; they crush the tiny seed to make oil that keeps insects away, helps the soil, and treats skin problems. So, Neem seed now means the 'seed' of the neem tree used as a 'natural pesticide', a 'fertilizer', and a 'medicine'.