ragweed
ragweed Lexical Profile
ragweed Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Any of various weedy plants of the genus Ambrosia, native primarily to the Americas, characterized by deeply lobed, ragged leaves and inconspicuous green flowers that release copious amounts of highly allergenic pollen.
"During late summer and fall, ragweed produces wind-blown pollen that triggers severe hay fever for millions of people."
Word Nuance & Usage
Ragweed is commonly confused with goldenrod, a conspicuous, bright yellow flower that blooms at the same time; however, goldenrod is insect-pollinated and rarely causes allergies, whereas ragweed has inconspicuous green flowers and wind-blown pollen.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in American English in the early 19th century from 'rag' (describing its deeply cut, ragged-looking leaves) and 'weed'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.