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seed
/siːd/
The primary image is one of potential and origin. Whether biological or financial, it represents the smallest possible starting point that contains all the necessary information or resources to grow into something much larger. In a business context, "seed" carries a connotation of risk and early-stage nurturing, distinguishing it from later rounds of funding (like Series A) which are more about scaling than initiating. In sports, the term shifts toward organization and fairness. It implies a structured hierarchy where rank determines placement to ensure the most competitive matches happen at the end of a tournament. The word is unique because its verb forms can be opposites: it can mean adding seeds to the earth (sowing) or removing seeds from a vegetable (cleaning). Context is the only way to distinguish these two actions.
Countable when referring to individual botanical grains (three pumpkin seeds). Uncountable when referring to the collective material for sowing (the field was full of seed).
意味
The small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow.
"She planted a sunflower seed in the garden."
The initial amount of money used to start a business venture.
"The startup received 50,000 dollars in seed funding."
To remove seeds from a fruit or vegetable.
"You need to seed the chili peppers before chopping them."
To arrange players in a tournament based on their rank to prevent top competitors from meeting too early.
"The committee decided to seed the defending champion as number one."