Herb
/ɜːrb/
Definitions
A plant or part of a plant used for flavoring food, as a medicine, or for its scent.
/ɜːrb/
A plant or part of a plant used as medicine or to flavor food.
The chef seasoned the dish with a variety of fresh herbs.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're making a yummy pasta sauce. The leaves you add to make it taste better are herbs! You can also use them to make you feel better if you're sick.
👶 For kids: A plant that smells good and can make your food taste better or help you feel better when you are sick.
More Examples
The garden was filled with a selection of fragrant herbs.
The doctor prescribed a tea made from healing herbs to soothe her cough.
How It's Used
"Rosemary is a common herb used in Mediterranean cooking."
"Many traditional medicines use herbs for their healing properties."
Idioms & expressions
herbal tea
A beverage made by infusing herbs in hot water.
"I enjoy drinking herbal tea before bed to relax."
herb garden
A garden where herbs are grown.
"We have planted a herb garden in our backyard."
From Old French *herbe*, from Latin *herba* ('grass, herb, plant').
Historically, herbs were widely used for medicinal purposes and were often cultivated in monasteries and gardens. They were also important in early culinary practices.
Memory tip
Think of the fresh smell and flavor that herbs bring to your cooking or medicine!