ragweed

noun
rag·​weed | \ ˈrag-ˌwēd How to pronounce ragweed (audio) \

Definition of ragweed

: any of various chiefly North American weedy composite herbs (genus Ambrosia) that produce highly allergenic pollen

Illustration of ragweed

Illustration of ragweed

Examples of ragweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to ragweed, fall is prime season for indoor and outdoor molds. Marisa Cohen, Good Housekeeping, "How to Get Relief From Fall Allergies, According to an Allergist," 19 June 2019 For other plants, like pollen-spewing ragweed, a warmer winter is effectively a shorter winter. Umair Irfan, Vox, "Winters are warming faster than summers. These US cities could lose weeks of freezing days by 2050.," 21 Dec. 2018 That means ragweed and other plants start producing pollen earlier in the season, which will lead to more misery for allergy sufferers. Umair Irfan, Vox, "Winters are warming faster than summers. These US cities could lose weeks of freezing days by 2050.," 21 Dec. 2018 Frumkin said ragweed and poison ivy trigger more powerful allergic reactions with higher carbon dioxide levels. Kelsey Ryan, kansascity, "Are your allergies getting worse? Climate change may be to blame," 19 June 2018 Frumkin said ragweed and poison ivy trigger more powerful allergic reactions with higher carbon dioxide levels. Washington Post, "Looking for signs of global warming? It’s all around you," 19 June 2018 Frumkin said ragweed and poison ivy trigger more powerful allergic reactions with higher carbon dioxide levels. Seth Borenstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Looking for signs of global warming? They’re all around you," 19 June 2018 High ragweed pollen days have increased by between 15 and 29 days since 1990 in a swath of the country from Oklahoma City north to Winnipeg, Canada, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture study. Seth Borenstein, Fox News, "Not just heat: Climate change signs can be seen all around," 19 June 2018 High ragweed days across America swelled from 1990 to 2016, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Lewis Ziska. Washington Post, "Looking for signs of global warming? It’s all around you," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ragweed.' 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 ragweed

1790, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for ragweed

ragweed

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ragweed

: any one of a group of North American plants that release a lot of pollen into the air and that can cause allergic reactions in some people

ragweed

noun
rag·​weed | \ ˈrag-ˌwēd How to pronounce ragweed (audio) \

Kids Definition of ragweed

: a common weed with pollen that irritates the eyes and noses of some people

ragweed

noun
rag·​weed | \ ˈrag-ˌwēd How to pronounce ragweed (audio) \

Medical Definition of ragweed

: any of various chiefly North American weedy herbaceous plants comprising the genus Ambrosia and producing highly allergenic pollen responsible for much hay fever and asthma: as
a : an annual weed (A. artemisiifolia) with finely divided foliage that is common on open or cultivated ground in much of North America
b : a coarse annual (A. trifida) with some or all of the leaves usually deeply and palmately 3-cleft or 5-cleft

called also great ragweed

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