bindweed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Everyday, Botanical/Gardening
Quick answer
What does “bindweed” mean?
A common name for various fast-growing climbing plants, especially of the genera Convolvulus and Calystegia, that twine around other plants, structures, or objects and are often difficult to eradicate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for various fast-growing climbing plants, especially of the genera Convolvulus and Calystegia, that twine around other plants, structures, or objects and are often difficult to eradicate.
Something that restricts, constrains, or entangles in a persistent and tenacious manner, much like the plant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning and specific plants referred to are identical. The term is equally standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations of nuisance, persistence, and difficulty of control.
Frequency
Similar frequency in contexts of gardening, agriculture, and nature writing.
Grammar
How to Use “bindweed” in a Sentence
[bindweed] + [verb of growth] (e.g., bindweed choked...)[verb of control] + [bindweed] (e.g., eradicate the bindweed)[adjective] + [bindweed] (e.g., stubborn bindweed)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bindweed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The garden was completely bindweeded by the invasive creeper.
- I've spent the afternoon trying to bindweed the vegetable patch.
American English
- The fence is getting bindweeded by that morning glory lookalike.
- We need to bindweed the flower beds before planting.
adverb
British English
- Not standard usage.
American English
- Not standard usage.
adjective
British English
- The bindweed stems were incredibly tough.
- We faced a bindweed infestation in the allotment.
American English
- The bindweed problem in the cornfield is severe.
- She showed me the bindweed growth along the property line.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potential metaphorical use for a persistent, constraining problem (e.g., 'the bindweed of bureaucracy').
Academic
Used in botanical, ecological, and agricultural texts to describe specific plant species and their impact.
Everyday
Common in gardening conversations and nature descriptions, always with a negative tone.
Technical
Precise taxonomic term for plants in Convolvulaceae family, often specifying species (e.g., Calystegia sepium).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bindweed”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bindweed”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bindweed”
- Using 'bindweed' to refer to any attractive climbing vine like clematis or honeysuckle. It refers specifically to weedy species.
- Misspelling as 'bind weed' (should be one word or hyphenated: bind-weed).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are in the same plant family (Convolvulaceae). Ornamental morning glories are cultivated varieties, while bindweed refers to the weedy, invasive species. Bindweed is sometimes called 'wild morning glory'.
Bindweed has an extensive, deep root system and can regenerate from small root fragments. It also produces many seeds, ensuring its persistence.
While considered a pest, some species have been used in traditional medicine. However, in modern gardening and agriculture, it is almost exclusively viewed as a problematic invasive species.
They are completely different invasive plants. Bindweed is a thin-stemmed, twining vine with trumpet-shaped flowers. Japanese knotweed is a tall, bamboo-like herbaceous perennial with large, shovel-shaped leaves.
A common name for various fast-growing climbing plants, especially of the genera Convolvulus and Calystegia, that twine around other plants, structures, or objects and are often difficult to eradicate.
Bindweed is usually everyday, botanical/gardening in register.
Bindweed: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪndwiːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪndwiːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word 'bindweed'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A WEED that BINDs (wraps around and ties up) other plants.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSISTENT PROBLEM IS A WEED; CONSTRAINT/ENTANGLEMENT IS BINDING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that defines a plant as 'bindweed'?