Herbicidal

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing substances that serve to eliminate or suppress plant growth, particularly those harmful to desired crops
2. Pertaining to chemicals applied with the intent to control or eradicate unwanted plants
3. Relating to agents or chemicals used to destroy or control undesirable plant growth

Etymology: The "herb" in this word has nothing to do with basil or thyme. It comes from Latin "herba," meaning grass or any green plant, which is why the root covers weeds as easily as garden plants. The second half, "-cide," comes from Latin "caedere," which originally meant "to cut" before it came to mean "to kill." A herbicide is therefore, at root, a plant-cutter. The Romans never used this combination. It is a modern coinage built from those classical parts, following the pattern of older formations such as "insecticide" and "pesticide." Adding the suffix "-al" turns the noun into an adjective for anything relating to such chemicals, from a spray to a particular strategy.

Synonyms: weed-killing, plant-killing