Meanings
nounmilkweed (plural milkweeds)
plural milkweeds
- Any of several plants that have a milky sap and have pods that split to release seeds with silky tufts.
- Principally of the genus Asclepias in order Gentianales, family Apocynaceae
- Also of the genus Calotropis in order Gentianales, family Apocynaceae
- Euphorbia peplus and Euphorbia heterophylla, in order Malpighiales.
- A monarch butterfly (Danaus spp).
Synonyms & antonyms
Similar
nounany of numerous plants of the genus Asclepias having milky juice and pods that split open releasing seeds with downy tufts
Similar
Broader
herbherbaceous plant
nounannual Eurasian sow thistle with soft spiny leaves and rayed yellow flower heads
Similar
Sonchus oleraceus
Broader
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Arabic عُشَر
- عُشَر (ʕušar)plant of the genus Calotropis
Finnish silkkiyrtti, madari
- silkkiyrttiplant of the genus Asclepias
- madariplant of the genus Calotropis
- kolmisädetyräkkiplant Euphorbia peplus
German Seidenpflanze, Kielkrone
- Seidenpflanzeplant of the genus Asclepias
- Kielkroneplant of the genus Calotropis
Greek ασκληπιάδα, ζιζάνιο πεταλούδας
- ασκληπιάδα (asklipiáda)plant of the genus Asclepias
- ζιζάνιο πεταλούδας (zizánio petaloúdas)plant of the genus Asclepias
Italian asclepiade
- asclepiadeplant of the genus Asclepias
Persian استبرک
- استبرک (estabrak)plant of the genus Calotropis
Polish trojeść
- trojeśćplant of the genus Asclepias
Cite this entry
APA
milkweed. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/milkweed
MLA
“milkweed.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/milkweed. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “milkweed,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/milkweed.
Source: milkweed on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.