tickseed
tickseed Lexical Profile
tickseed Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various herbaceous plants of the genus Coreopsis, native primarily to North and Central America, cultivated for their bright, daisy-like yellow flowers and producing small, flat seeds that resemble ticks.
"We planted tickseed along the sunny borders of the garden to attract butterflies and bees throughout the late summer."
Any of several other unrelated plants, such as those in the genera Bidens or Corispermum, that produce similar flat, insect-like seeds or burrs that cling to clothing or animal fur.
"After hiking through the tall meadow grass, his socks were completely covered in the clinging burrs of tickseed."
The literal seed of the tickseed plant.
"The birds flocked to the fading flowers in autumn, eager to eat the ripe tickseed before winter arrived."
• Rhymes for tickseed
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 17th century as a compound of 'tick' and 'seed', due to the fact that the small, dark, and flattened seeds of the plant closely resemble ticks.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.