seed
seed — 名詞
1. a tiny, often hard object that forms inside a plant and can be placed in soil to
種子
植物繁殖用的小顆粒
a tiny, often hard object that forms inside a plant and can be placed in soil to grow a new plant
Ryan planted a sunflower seed in a small pot on the kitchen window.
Ryan 在廚房的窗台上將一顆向日葵種子種在小花盆裡。
The farmer saved the best seeds from this year's crop for next spring.
農夫將今年收成中最好的種子留到明年春天使用。
countable: seeds from [crop]
A single poppy seed can grow into a plant with dozens of flowers.
單單一顆罌粟種子就能長成開滿數十朵花的植株。
Birds ate most of the seeds that Mei scattered across the garden.
Mei 撒在花園裡的種子大部分都被鳥吃掉了。
Some seeds need cold weather before they will start to grow.
有些種子在開始生長之前需要經歷寒冷的氣候。
用法筆記
Used as a countable noun (one seed, many seeds) and also as uncountable when referring to seeds as a general substance — for example, 'birdseed' or 'seed can be stored for years in a dry place.'
常見錯誤
2. the fluid produced by male animals and humans that carries sperm and is involved
精液
雄性生殖液體
the fluid produced by male animals and humans that carries sperm and is involved in reproduction
The doctor examined a sample of the patient's seed under a microscope.
醫生在顯微鏡下檢查病人的精液樣本。
uncountable: seed as biological fluid
Researchers studied how temperature changes affect seed quality in mammals.
研究人員研究了溫度變化如何影響哺乳動物的精液品質。
The fertility clinic stores donated seed in containers at very low temperatures.
生育診所將捐贈的精液儲存在極低溫的容器中。
Veterinarians collected seed from the stallion for the breeding programme.
獸醫從種馬身上採集精液用於繁殖計畫。
用法筆記
Clinical or biological register. In everyday conversation, the word 'semen' is far more common than 'seed' for this meaning.
3. the stage when an edible plant is left unpicked until it forms flower heads and
開花結籽
植物未採收而開花結籽
the stage when an edible plant is left unpicked until it forms flower heads and develops seeds rather than being gathered for food
The lettuce had gone to seed after Lien forgot to pick it before summer.
Lien 忘了在夏天前採收，萵苣已經開花結籽了。
fixed phrase: go/run to seed (literal)
If you leave the broccoli in the ground too long, it will run to seed.
如果你把花椰菜留在土裡太久，它就會開花結籽。
The farmer's spinach crop had all gone to seed during the heatwave.
農夫的菠菜作物在熱浪期間全都開花結籽了。
Marco let the courgette plant run to seed to save seeds for next year.
Marco 讓櫛瓜開花結籽，以便為明年留下種子。
- bolting
the technical gardening term for a plant that has gone to seed prematurely
用法筆記
Always appears in the fixed phrases 'go to seed' or 'run to seed'. Not used outside this construction for this meaning.
4. a worn-down, untidy state that a person, place, or thing develops when nobody ta
衰敗
人或地方因缺乏照顧而變舊
a worn-down, untidy state that a person, place, or thing develops when nobody takes proper care of it
After the owner moved away, the old hotel gradually went to seed.
屋主搬走後，那間老舊的旅館漸漸變得破敗不堪。
fixed phrase: go/run to seed (figurative)
Tunde's once-beautiful garden had sadly gone to seed with weeds everywhere.
Tunde 曾經美麗的花園已經雜草叢生，顯得十分荒廢。
The park had run to seed since the council stopped paying for gardeners.
自從市府停止聘請園丁之後，那座公園就變得雜亂失修。
Esteban's suit looked like it had gone to seed with frayed cuffs and missing buttons.
Esteban 的西裝看起來破舊寒酸，袖口磨損，鈕扣也掉了。
- deteriorate
more formal and general, not limited to appearance
- decline
broader — can refer to health, quality, or standards over time
- thrive
to grow or develop well with proper care
用法筆記
Always in the set phrases 'go to seed' or 'run to seed'. Applies to people's appearance or the condition of buildings and outdoor spaces.
5. a small starting point from which a thought, emotion, or larger process graduall
萌芽；開端
情感或發展的初期階段
a small starting point from which a thought, emotion, or larger process gradually grows
The seeds of doubt were planted in her mind by the anonymous letter.
那封匿名信在她心中種下了懷疑的種子。
phrase: seeds of [something]
That short conversation contained the seeds of their future business partnership.
那次短暫的談話蘊藏著他們未來事業夥伴關係的開端。
The seeds of the revolution were sown during years of unfair government policies.
多年不公平的政策播下了革命的火種。
Even as a young child, Nia showed the seeds of her talent for classical music.
Nia 從小就展現出她古典音樂天賦的萌芽。
- end
the final point or conclusion of a process or development
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural — 'the seeds of something'. Commonly followed by 'of + noun' to name what will develop.
6. a player or team placed in a ranked position in a tournament draw so that the st
種子選手
比賽中按實力排名的選手
a player or team placed in a ranked position in a tournament draw so that the strongest competitors do not meet one another in the early rounds
The top seed lost in the first round, which shocked the tennis world.
頭號種子在第一輪就輸了，震驚了整個網球界。
sports ranking: top / first / second seed
Karim was the third seed at the national badminton championship this year.
Karim 是今年全國羽球錦標賽的第三種子。
The tournament's number one seed advanced easily to the quarter-finals.
這次錦標賽的第一種子輕鬆晉級八強賽。
As the defending champion, Aoi was given the top seed in the competition.
作為衛冕冠軍，Aoi 在比賽中獲得了頭號種子的位置。
用法筆記
Commonly paired with ordinal numbers — 'first seed', 'second seed' — or with 'top/number one' for the highest-ranked player.
常見錯誤
seed — 動詞
1. to form and release seeds as part of a plant's natural life cycle
結籽
植物自然產生或散落種子
to form and release seeds as part of a plant's natural life cycle
The tomato plants began to seed in late August after weeks of hot weather.
經過幾週炎熱天氣，番茄植株在八月底開始結籽。
intransitive: plants seed (naturally)
Some wildflowers seed themselves by dropping their grains directly onto the ground.
有些野花會將種子直接掉落到地面上自行繁殖。
The oak tree seeds every autumn, covering the driveway with hundreds of acorns.
橡樹每年秋天結籽，車道上鋪滿了數百顆橡實。
After the dry summer, the grass had already seeded and turned brown.
經過乾燥的夏季，草已經結籽並變成了棕色。
- go to seed
describes the process more fully, including the plant's decline after seeding
用法筆記
Can be used intransitively ('the plant seeds in autumn') or transitively ('the plant seeds itself'). The transitive form is usually reflexive with 'itself'.
2. to take out the small hard parts from inside produce such as melons, peppers, or
去籽
從水果或蔬菜中取出種子
to take out the small hard parts from inside produce such as melons, peppers, or squash before cooking or eating
Yael seeded the watermelon before cutting it into small pieces for the salad.
Yael 將西瓜去籽後切成小塊用來做沙拉。
transitive: seed + fruit/vegetable
The recipe says to seed the jalapeños for a milder sauce.
食譜上說把辣椒去籽可以做出味道較溫和的醬汁。
Hari seeded each tomato by cutting it open and scooping out the inside.
Hari 將每個番茄切開，挖出裡面的籽。
Before making the jam, Élise seeded all the grapes by hand in the kitchen.
Élise 在廚房裡用手將所有葡萄去籽，然後才開始做果醬。
- deseed
the synonym more commonly used in British English cookbooks
用法筆記
Very common in cooking instructions. Usually appears in the imperative or infinitive form in recipes — 'Seed the peppers before chopping them.'
3. to put seeds into the ground so that they can grow into new plants
播種
將種子放入土中使其生長
to put seeds into the ground so that they can grow into new plants
The farmer seeded the field with wheat just before the spring rains arrived.
農夫在春雨來臨前在田裡播下小麥種子。
transitive: seed + [land] with [crop]
Ryan seeded the empty patches in the lawn with a fresh grass mixture.
Ryan 在草坪上光禿的地方播下新的草籽。
The volunteers seeded the hillside with young trees after the forest fire.
森林大火過後，志工們在山坡上種下了小樹苗。
Esme seeded the vegetable patch with carrots and beetroots last weekend.
Esme 上週末在菜園裡播下了胡蘿蔔和甜菜的種子。
用法筆記
The direct object is the area being planted (the land, field, or container). The type of seed is introduced with 'with' — 'seed the field with corn.'
常見錯誤
4. to introduce an idea, feeling, or resource into a situation with the intention o
播下；引發
引入事物使其之後發展壯大
to introduce an idea, feeling, or resource into a situation with the intention of making it grow or develop over time
The manager's unfair comments seeded a growing sense of anger among the team.
經理不公平的評論在團隊中引發了日益增長的憤怒情緒。
transitive: seed + [feeling] + in/among [group]
Mateo's question seeded an interesting discussion about the future of the company.
Mateo 的問題引發了一場關於公司未來的有趣討論。
The government program seeded small businesses with low-interest loans.
政府的計畫以低利貸款為小型企業注入啟動資金。
The documentary seeded doubts in Tara's mind about everything she had believed.
那部紀錄片在 Tara 心中種下了懷疑的種子，顛覆了她一直相信的一切。
用法筆記
Commonly takes a prepositional phrase — 'seed doubt in someone's mind', 'seed an idea among the team', 'seed a project with funds'. The adverb or preposition is usually required to complete the meaning.
5. to assign a top player or team a numbered position in a tournament draw so that
列為種子
在比賽中按實力排名選手
to assign a top player or team a numbered position in a tournament draw so that the best competitors are kept apart from each other at the start of the event
The defending champion was seeded first in this year's Wimbledon tournament.
衛冕冠軍在今年溫布頓錦標賽中被列為第一種子。
passive: was/were seeded [number]
Esteban was seeded fifth but played well enough to reach the final match.
Esteban 被列為第五種子，但他打得很好，一路闖進決賽。
The committee seeded the players based on their performance over the past year.
委員會根據選手過去一年的表現來決定種子排名。
A young unknown player defeated several seeded opponents to win the title.
一位年輕的無名選手擊敗了多位種子選手，贏得了冠軍。
- rank
broader — used in any competition or list, not specifically for tournament draw placement
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the passive voice — 'He was seeded third.' The active form ('The committee seeded him third') is possible but much less common.
6. to release substances such as silver iodide into clouds from an aircraft, in an
播雲
在雲層中撒化學物質促進降雨
to release substances such as silver iodide into clouds from an aircraft, in an attempt to cause rain to fall
The government sent planes to seed the clouds during the severe drought.
政府在嚴重乾旱期間派飛機進行人工降雨。
transitive: seed + clouds
Scientists seeded the clouds with silver iodide to try to end the dry spell.
科學家在雲層中播撒碘化銀，試圖結束乾旱。
The company specialises in cloud seeding for farming regions with low rainfall.
這家公司專門為降雨量不足的農業地區進行人工降雨。
After the clouds were seeded, heavy rain fell across the valley within a few hours.
雲層經過人工催化後，幾小時內山谷降下大雨。
用法筆記
A technical term in meteorology and agriculture. The noun form 'cloud seeding' is more common than the verb 'to seed clouds.'