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Definition of needlegrass
needlegrass
/ˈniːdəlˌɡræs/
nee · dle · grass
Plural:needlegrasses
needlegrass Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of various grasses, primarily of the genera Stipa, Nassella, or Achnatherum, found in temperate regions and characterized by sharp-pointed seeds with long, bristle-like awns.
Example
"The rancher noticed that the cattle were avoiding the pasture densely overgrown with native needlegrass during its seeding phase."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for needlegrass• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'needle' and 'grass', named for the sharply pointed florets (seeds) and long, slender, twisted awns characteristic of these grass species.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Needlegrass. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/needlegrass