noun
dock
A coarse-leaved plant related to sorrel.
A dock grows beside the fence, spreading its broad leaves.
Etymology
The Old English word already names the plant. This botanical sense continues the inherited name for broad-leaved plants in the sorrel family.
More examples
- She pulls the dock out before it produces seeds.
- Several docks grow along the edge of the pasture.
- Dock and sorrel belong to the same plant family.
Forms
dock · docks
Similar words
- weed
- Describes any unwanted plant, rather than this particular kind.