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

Illustration of milkweed

Examples of milkweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For wetter climates, opt for swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2025

Over there was the patch of milkweed, a magnet for butterflies. —Billy Witz, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Include different varieties such as common milkweed, butterfly weed and swamp milkweed. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Dec. 2024

Monarchs can sniff out a milkweed plant from a football field away. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing milkweed

• milkweed bug
• milkweed butterfly

Rhymes for milkweed

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede

Kids 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