weeder

/'wi:d /

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Explanation of the Word "Weeder"

Definition: A "weeder" is a noun that can refer to two main things: 1. A hand tool used for removing weeds from gardens or fields. 2. A person (often called a farmhand) who is hired to remove weeds from plants or crops.

Usage Instructions

• As a Tool: When you talk about a weeder as a tool, you might use it in a sentence to describe gardening work.
• As a Person: When referring to a person, you might use it when discussing jobs related to farming or gardening.

Examples

1. As a Tool: "I used a weeder to clear the garden of unwanted plants."
2. As a Person: "The farmer hired a weeder to help keep the fields clean of weeds."

Advanced Usage

In a more advanced context, you might discuss the effectiveness of different types of weeders in agricultural practices or how hiring a weeder can influence crop yields.

Word Variants

• Weeding (verb): The act of removing weeds.
  • Example: "I spent the afternoon weeding the flower beds."
• Weed (noun): An unwanted plant that competes with cultivated plants.
  • Example: "Dandelions are a common weed that gardeners often battle."

Different Meanings

The word "weeder" primarily refers to the tool or the person, but in a very informal context, someone might jokingly refer to a person who often doesn't participate in group tasks as a "weeder," implying they are only there to remove themselves from hard work. However, this usage is rare and context-dependent.

Synonyms

• For the tool:

  • Hand weeder
  • Garden hoe (though a hoe is used for broader tasks)

• For the person:

  • Farmhand
  • Gardener (though a gardener performs various tasks beyond just weeding)

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly include "weeder," you could use phrases related to gardening and maintenance:

Summary

A "weeder" can refer to either a tool or a person involved in gardening or farming. It's important to understand the context to know whether someone is talking about the tool or the job.

Academic

Noun

1. a hand tool for removing weeds
2. a farmhand hired to remove weeds

Synonyms

• weed-whacker