Illustration of milkweed
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd 
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers
Examples of milkweed in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a few days, that egg will hatch a caterpillar barely a few millimeters long, which will binge itself on milkweed leaves for another two weeks.
—
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
With their milkweed diet being a core tenet to how monarchs protect themselves from predators, other butterfly species have evolved to resemble monarchs’ coloring as a way to gain protection.
—Muqsit Ashraf, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Like other milkweeds, swamp milkweed is a host to monarch butterfly larvae.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Just like milkweeds for monarchs, there are several plants that caterpillars of all shapes and colors feed on.
—Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for milkweed
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Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
With their milkweed diet being a core tenet to how monarchs protect themselves from predators, other butterfly species have evolved to resemble monarchs’ coloring as a way to gain protection.
—Muqsit Ashraf, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Like other milkweeds, swamp milkweed is a host to monarch butterfly larvae.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Just like milkweeds for monarchs, there are several plants that caterpillars of all shapes and colors feed on.
—Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for milkweed
Cite this Entry
“Milkweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milkweed. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmil-ˌkwēd
: any of various herbs with milky juice and flowers usually in dense clusters
Medical Definition
milkweed
noun
milk·weed
ˈmilk-ˌwēd
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially
: any plant of the genus Asclepias (family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) including several whose dried roots were formerly used medicinally
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