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seedtime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (Literary/Formal/Archaic)
UK/ˈsiːdtaɪm/US/ˈsidˌtaɪm/

Literary, Formal, Biblical, Agricultural (historical/technical)

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Quick answer

What does “seedtime” mean?

The season or period for sowing seeds.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The season or period for sowing seeds.

A period of initial development, preparation, or laying the groundwork for future growth or results.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in definition. The word is equally rare in both varieties.

Connotations

Strong biblical/literary connotations (e.g., 'seedtime and harvest'). In agricultural contexts, it is a dated technical term.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in modern general usage in both varieties. Its occurrence is almost entirely restricted to religious texts, literary works, and deliberate metaphorical use.

Grammar

How to Use “seedtime” in a Sentence

the seedtime of [ABSTRACT NOUN: life/nation/revolution]in [POSSESSIVE] seedtime

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
seedtime and harvestthe seedtime ofspring seedtime
medium
in seedtimeduring seedtimeseedtime of lifeseedtime of the year
weak
early seedtimelate seedtimeseedtime of ideasseedtime for

Examples

Examples of “seedtime” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

adverb

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

adjective

British English

  • N/A

American English

  • N/A

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Metaphorical: 'The early 2000s were the seedtime for today's social media giants.'

Academic

Used in historical/agricultural studies or literary analysis of metaphorical language.

Everyday

Virtually never used in casual conversation.

Technical

An archaic or historical term in agronomy; modern farming uses more specific terms like 'sowing window' or 'planting date.'

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “seedtime”

Strong

spring (in agricultural context)sowing

Neutral

sowing seasonplanting time

Weak

beginningincubation periodformative stagegerminal period

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “seedtime”

harvestharvest timereapingautumnfruitionculmination

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “seedtime”

  • Using it to mean 'a time of rapid growth' (that's harvest/growth time).
  • Confusing it with 'season' in a general sense.
  • Using it in everyday contexts where simpler terms like 'beginning' or 'start' are appropriate.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a low-frequency word primarily found in literary, religious, or formal metaphorical contexts.

No, 'seedtime' is exclusively a noun. The related verb is 'to sow'.

Its most famous use is in the King James Bible, Genesis 8:22: 'While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.'

'Formative stage' or 'incubation period' are good synonyms for its metaphorical meaning.

Seedtime is usually literary, formal, biblical, agricultural (historical/technical) in register.

Seedtime: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiːdtaɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsidˌtaɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “Seedtime and harvest shall not cease. (Biblical, Genesis 8:22)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: SEED + TIME. It is the *time* to plant *seeds*, either in the ground or for future plans.

Conceptual Metaphor

LIFE/IDEAS/PROJECTS ARE PLANTS. 'Seedtime' maps the initial, preparatory stage of any process onto the agricultural act of sowing.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The poet described youth as the of hopes and dreams.
Multiple Choice

In which context is 'seedtime' MOST likely to be used correctly?

seedtime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore