cheatgrass

noun
cheat·​grass | \ ˈchēt-ˌgras How to pronounce cheatgrass (audio) \

Definition of cheatgrass

: an annual weedy Eurasian bromegrass (Bromus tectorum) naturalized in North America

Examples of cheatgrass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sage grouse habitats are being infiltrated by cheatgrass, an invasive species that grows thick—unlike native sagebrush, which grows spotty—which can fuel massive wildfires that destroy their homes. Matt Simon, WIRED, "Why Scientists Turned This Taxidermy Bird Into a Robot," 1 June 2018 Experts say the wildfires have mainly been driven by cheatgrass, an invasive species that relies on fire to spread to new areas while killing the native plants, including sagebrush. Shane Dixon Kavanaugh, OregonLive.com, "Lake Oswego mother, 12-year-old daughter killed in Christmas Day crash, police say," 26 Dec. 2017 Experts say the wildfires have mainly been driven by cheatgrass, an invasive species that relies on fire to spread to new areas while killing the native plants, including sagebrush. Washington Post, "US launches ambitious plan to battle rangeland wildfires," 22 Dec. 2017 Success has been elusive for federal agencies trying to halt the advance of cheatgrass. Shane Dixon Kavanaugh, OregonLive.com, "Lake Oswego mother, 12-year-old daughter killed in Christmas Day crash, police say," 26 Dec. 2017 Cavallaro said early aerial seeding helped keep cheatgrass from spreading. Tom Holm, idahostatesman, "Fish and Game will spend years rehabbing Tex Creek area to keep elk out of trouble," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cheatgrass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of cheatgrass

1838, in the meaning defined above

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