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Definition of kudzu

kudzu

/ˈkʊd.zuː/
kud · zu
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kudzu Lexical Profile

kudzu Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A rapid-growing, perennial East Asian climbing vine of the pea family, characterized by large leaves and purple flowers. It was widely introduced to the southeastern United States for erosion control but has since become a notoriously invasive weed that smothers other vegetation.

Example

"The abandoned farmhouse at the edge of the property was completely swallowed by a thick, green blanket of creeping kudzu."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kudzu

• Nearby Words

kudo
kudos
kudu
kudzu
kugel
kuhli loach
kukri snake

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from the Japanese word 'kuzu' (葛), referring to the Japanese arrowroot. It was introduced to the United States in the late 19th century as an ornamental plant and later promoted for erosion control.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kudzu. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kudzu
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