herb [herbherbs] BrE [hɜːb] NAmE [ɜːrb] NAmE [hɜːrb] noun 1. a plant whose leaves, flowers or seeds are used to flavour food, in medicines or for their pleasant smell. Parsley, ↑mint and ↑oregano are all herbs •a herb garden • (NAmE)an herb garden 2. (technical)a plant with a soft ↑stem that dies down after flowering
Word Origin: Middle English: via Old French from Latin herba ‘grass, green crops, herb’. Although herb has always been spelled with an h, pronunciation without the h was usual until the 19th cent. and is still standard in the US.
Example Bank: •Add a teaspoonful of mixed herbs. •Ali recommends taking herbs to facilitate recovery. •Serve cold, garnished with fresh herbs. •The shop sells a large range of herbs and spices.
