groundsel

noun

ground·​sel ˈgrau̇n(d)-səl How to pronounce groundsel (audio)
: any of various senecios (such as the nearly cosmopolitan European weed Senecio vulgaris)

Examples of groundsel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The boulevard, nominally protected from erosion by a border of reeds and groundsel shrubs, had flooded on a recent day. Tribune News Service, New York Daily News, 12 July 2024 His successes for the project include plugs of potted golden groundsel (Packera obovata), threadleaf bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii), Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia reverchonii), New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) and blazing star (Liatris spicata). Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 12 July 2023 The feathery pappus on the groundsel seed head are ready for wind dispersal as seen at 2x in the second-place image. Discover Magazine, 4 Oct. 2017 Fleabane, goldenrod, tansyleaf aster, western dayflowers, brickellbush, yarrow, thistle and groundsel add sprinkles of yellow, blue, purple and white in sunny spots. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2022 Other evergreen choices include Christmas ferns, wood ferns (semi-evergreen), moss, golden groundsel (yellow spring flowers about 1-inch tall). Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 26 Apr. 2018 Spikes and fibers protrude from the flowering head of a herb groundsel in Havi Sarfaty's second-place image. Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 4 Oct. 2017 A LUSH, LOW-EFFORT PLAN Under a canopy of tall trees and shrubs, designer Weaner created a leafy carpet of native ground covers, like groundsel, Canada anemone and heuchera. Martha Stewart, star-telegram, 12 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English groundeswele, from Old English grundeswelge, from grund ground + swelgan to swallow — more at swallow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of groundsel was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near groundsel

Cite this Entry

“Groundsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groundsel. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

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