seedbed

noun

seed·​bed ˈsēd-ˌbed How to pronounce seedbed (audio)
1
: soil or a bed of soil prepared for planting seed
2
: a place or source of growth or development

Examples of seedbed in a Sentence

a social and political environment that would later become a seedbed of the abolition movement that think tank has served as a seedbed for American conservatism since the Cold War era
Recent Examples on the Web Even Alexandria, which was one of the seedbeds of Western thought and philosophy in the centuries before and after Christ, is now dominated by Islam, which Goodwin does not see as part of the West. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 There is a calm after the storm of creative-destruction, and the current science blogosphere is laying the seedbed for future renewal. Discover Magazine, 20 Nov. 2019 The United States grew from seedbeds in Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem, and especially in the English traditions of accountable government, from Magna Carta to the Glorious Revolution. The Editors, National Review, 16 Oct. 2023 Family and faith are seedbeds of virtue where government ought not to intrude. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 10 June 2023 The purpose of this savvy bit of cross-promotion is, of course, to engage kids, who watch and play football at diminishing rates relative to years past, a trend accelerated by video games, the pandemic, and the changing perception of football as a seedbed of injury more than opportunity. Jake Nevins, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2022 Even in the Bay Area, a seedbed of policy efforts directed at curbing climate change, emissions need to drop much faster, according to a recent report by a Santa Rosa climate and energy policy nonprofit that’s trying to get California to accelerate its climate goals. J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Nov. 2021 Sprinkle the seed-and-sand mix over the seedbed. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2021 On the other hand, don't let the soil get too soggy; overwatering a seedbed can promote diseases such as damping off, a fungus that kills young seedlings. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seedbed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of seedbed was in 1618

Dictionary Entries Near seedbed

Cite this Entry

“Seedbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedbed. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

seedbed

noun
seed·​bed ˈsēd-ˌbed How to pronounce seedbed (audio)
: soil or a bed of soil prepared for planting seed

More from Merriam-Webster on seedbed

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