seeding
ˈsiːdɪŋ
noun
Origin
English
seed + -ing — the act or process associated with sowing seed
Overview
Meaning Now
- The act of sowing seeds; planting by scattering seed.
- The act of supplying or adding seeds, starters, or source material to begin growth, formation, or testing.
- In sports or tournaments, the ranking or placement of competitors before play begins.
Literal older meaning
the action of sowing seed
Language path
English → English → English
Earliest form
sǣding
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The word belongs to a very old Germanic vocabulary of agriculture. Its most basic sense is literal sowing, but modern English has also extended seeding to technical uses, especially in biology, computing, and sports, where a small initial input or ranking determines later growth or arrangement.
Evolution
- Old English
sǣd / sǣwan
“seed; sow”
Germanic base vocabulary for sowing and seed.
- Middle English
seden / seeden
“to sow seed”
Verb forms develop with Middle English spelling and pronunciation.
- Early Modern English
seeding
“the act of sowing or setting seed”
Regular -ing noun formation from the verb.
- Modern English
seeding
“sowing; introducing seed material; ranking competitors”
Specialized technical and sporting senses develop.
Connections
Word parts
seed
root
seed; what is sown
-ing
suffix
action, process, or result
Related across languages
German
Saat
seed; sowing
Dutch
zaad
seed
Old Norse
sáð
seed; sowing
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.