Definition
A dry, ball-shaped plant that breaks off at the base and rolls across arid landscapes, often symbolizing abandonment or desolation. In internet culture, 'tumbleweed' refers to an awkward silence or lack of response in a conversation or online space.
Example Usage
After he made that joke, there was just tumbleweed—nobody laughed.
Origin
From the dried skeleton of various shrubs (especially Amaranthus and Salsola species) that naturally detach and scatter seeds as they roll.
Fun Fact
Tumbleweeds became iconic symbols of the American frontier and ghost towns, though they're actually native to Russia and Central Asia and only became widespread in North America after accidental introduction in the 1870s.
Related Terms
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See “tumbleweed” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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