herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs 

1

a

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb

b

of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season

2

: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prairies are a kind of temperate grassland found in North America that are home to a diverse community of plants made up of native grasses and herbaceous flowering plants known as forbs. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024

Judging Panel as exhibiting: An aromatic nose with hints of allspice and banana offers a clean, herbaceous complexity on the palate. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

And most herbaceous perennials are incredibly tough. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 29 Nov. 2024

Fresh parsley: Adds a bright and herbaceous leafy note. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing herbaceous

• herbaceous border

Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling an herb

2

: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season