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Definition of mustard seed
mustard seed
Plural:mustard seeds
mustard seed Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
The small, round seed of the mustard plant, commonly used whole or ground as a pungent culinary spice.
Example
"The chef toasted the mustard seeds in hot oil before adding them to the vegetable curry."
2
A symbol of something minute or seemingly insignificant that possesses the potential to develop into something massive or powerful, derived from biblical parables.
Example
"She believed that even a mustard seed of faith would be enough to sustain her through the daunting challenges ahead."
Word Origin & Etymology
The word 'mustard' derives from the Old French 'moustarde', which comes from Latin 'mustum' (must, young wine), because the condiment was originally made by mixing the crushed seeds with unfermented wine. 'Seed' traces back to the Old English 'sǣd'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mustard seed. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mustard seed