Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of certain annual grasses of the genus Digitaria, having prostrate stems that root at the nodes and widely naturalized in North America as weeds in lawns and agricultural fields.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun botany A member of the genus Digitaria, a grass of tropical to temperate climates, and a major pest of lawns in such climates, mainly from their invasive habits and the fact they die off in the fall and winter, leaving ugly bare patches.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun grasses with creeping stems that root freely; a pest in lawns

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

crab +‎ grass

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Examples

  • Beside the Dumpster in the crabgrass was a pallet stacked with new asphalt shingles.

    Freud’s Blind Spot Elisa Albert 2010

  • We will not see crabgrass in lawns for several weeks, so any species being called crabgrass right now must be something else.

    unknown title 2009

  • We will not see crabgrass in lawns for several weeks, so any species being called crabgrass right now must be something else.

    unknown title 2009

  • Leading the list of grasses incorrectly identified as crabgrass is tall fescue.

    unknown title 2009

  • Pre-emergent weed killers are especially effective on annual weeds, such as crabgrass and annual bluegrass.

    A thick lawn can be yours with just a few steps 2010

  • Journalistic Weeds Blighting America's Political Landscape yahooBuzzArticleHeadline = 'Journalistic Weeds Blighting America\'s Political Landscape'; yahooBuzzArticleSummary = 'Article: When Ben Stein argues that ethical investors must not shun military contractors, he emulates the journalistic weeds, such as "crabgrass" Bill O\'Reilly, "pigweed" Rush Limbaugh and "creeping jenny" Ann Coulter, who have blighted America\'s political landscape.'

    Journalistic Weeds Blighting America's Political Landscape 2007

  • Other plants also are "totally tied up with our culture," he says, even reviled weeds like dandelions, once considered a decorative herb, and noxious grasses such as crabgrass and quackgrass, used to fuel the engines of commerce - horses and mules.

    LJWorld.com stories: News By Adrian Higgins - The Washington Post 2010

  • One of the trailers had Christmas decorations laid flat in its crabgrass yard.

    So Much Pretty Cara Hoffman 2011

  • One of the trailers had Christmas decorations laid flat in its crabgrass yard.

    So Much Pretty Cara Hoffman 2011

  • The fields were dusty and thick with crabgrass, the outfield fence was temporary and collapsing, the umpires teenaged and ambivalent.

    Was Your Little League This Good? Jason Gay 2011

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