herbicide

Definitions

herb (plant) + -i- (linker) + -cide (killer) = a 'plant-killer.' Whatever sits before -cide is the target: insecticide kills insects, pesticide kills pests, herbicide kills plants. So a herbicide is the chemical you spray to wipe out weeds.

Common Collocations

• 1.spray herbicide喷洒除草剂
• 2.apply herbicide施用除草剂
• 3.herbicide-resistant抗除草剂的
• 4.chemical herbicide化学除草剂

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The farmer sprayed herbicide along the field to kill the weeds before planting.

• 2.

  Some weeds have become resistant to common herbicides over the years.

• 3.

  Organic farms avoid chemical herbicides and pull weeds by hand instead.

Easily Confused

herbicide vs pesticide — A pesticide is the umbrella term for anything that kills pests (insects, weeds, fungi). A herbicide is specifically a weed-killer. Every herbicide is a pesticide, but a pesticide for bugs is an insecticide, not a herbicide. Rule of thumb: target plants → herbicide.