Illustration of milkweed
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd 
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers
Examples of milkweed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mounting threats Monarchs across the continent face mounting threats, chief among them vanishing milkweed, the host plant for the insect's caterpillars.
—
CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
Monarchs require milkweed as part of their lifecycle, but the plant is considered an agricultural pest, so chemicals are used to eradicate it.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2024
Look for the black, white and yellow striped caterpillars on milkweed plants.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
An overwhelming response led to the distribution of 780,000 milkweed seed packets in 2023, an effort that sought to restore landscapes and preserve habitats for pollinator species.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2024
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CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
Monarchs require milkweed as part of their lifecycle, but the plant is considered an agricultural pest, so chemicals are used to eradicate it.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2024
Look for the black, white and yellow striped caterpillars on milkweed plants.
—Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
An overwhelming response led to the distribution of 780,000 milkweed seed packets in 2023, an effort that sought to restore landscapes and preserve habitats for pollinator species.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for milkweed
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Dictionary Entries Near milkweed
Cite this Entry
“Milkweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milkweed. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmil-ˌkwēd
: any of various herbs with milky juice and flowers usually in dense clusters
Medical Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any plant of the genus Asclepias (family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) including several whose dried roots were formerly used medicinally
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