ghost-weed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Specialist/Terminological)Specialist/Botanical, Literary/Figurative
Quick answer
What does “ghost-weed” mean?
The common name for a parasitic flowering plant (genus Orobanche), also known as broomrape, that lacks chlorophyll and appears pale or ghostly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The common name for a parasitic flowering plant (genus Orobanche), also known as broomrape, that lacks chlorophyll and appears pale or ghostly.
Used metaphorically to describe something that drains resources unseen or an insubstantial, fading presence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is archaic in both varieties. 'Broomrape' is the standard modern botanical term in both BrE and AmE.
Connotations
In BrE, it carries a slight antiquarian or rural dialect feel. In AmE, it's virtually unknown outside specialist contexts.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage for both.
Grammar
How to Use “ghost-weed” in a Sentence
The [crop/plant] was choked by ghost-weed.Ghost-weed [parasitises/saps] the host.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ghost-weed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The leylandii was ghost-weeded by a persistent Orobanche.
American English
- The bean crop got ghost-weeded last season.
adjective
British English
- A ghost-weed infestation threatened the allotment.
American English
- They found a ghost-weed specimen among the clover.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Found in botanical papers or historical ecology texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used as a common name in botanical field guides or horticultural pest management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ghost-weed”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ghost-weed”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ghost-weed”
- Writing it as 'ghostweed' (solid form is less common).
- Confusing it with other pale plants like Indian pipe (Monotropa).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's a real common name for plants in the Orobanche genus, which are parasitic and lack green colour.
It would be very unusual. 'Broomrape' is the more standard common name, but even that is specialist.
Due to its pale, yellowish, or purplish stems and scales that lack chlorophyll, giving it a ghostly appearance compared to green plants.
Yes, to agriculture. It parasitises the roots of crops like beans, tomatoes, and sunflowers, stunting their growth and reducing yields.
The common name for a parasitic flowering plant (genus Orobanche), also known as broomrape, that lacks chlorophyll and appears pale or ghostly.
Ghost-weed is usually specialist/botanical, literary/figurative in register.
Ghost-weed: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊst wiːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊst wiːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[To be/live] like ghost-weed (to subsist by draining another unseen).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pale, ghostly plant sneaking up to steal the life from a healthy green one.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARASITISM IS GHOSTLY THEFT / A LACK OF SUBSTANCE IS GHOSTLIKE
Practice
Quiz
'Ghost-weed' is a common name for which type of organism?