English

A tumbleweed, Salsola sp.

Noun

tumbleweed ‎(countable and uncountable, plural tumbleweeds)

1. Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots in the autumn, and is driven by the wind, as a light, rolling mass, over the fields and prairies; as witch grass, wild indigo, Amaranthus albus, etc.
2. (attributive) Describing unwanted silence and inactivity. Often used of a situation when one makes a statement that is ignored or ill-received from one’s audience. Gives the impression that a tumbleweed has passed through the room, as the resultant silence is likened to that of a desolate desert.
   • 2000 January 21, "Plsntgrn" in alt.music.progressive, "Re: SOAR Budget (A Long Guestimate)" :

     Putting an ad in the local paper that Spock's Beard and Arena are in town will get you a tumbleweed response and some wasted revenue.

   • 2005, Trevor Wright, How to Be a Brilliant English Teacher , ISBN 041533246X, page 68:

     "Why do families argue?" may only induce the tumbleweed response. (Could you answer that question out of the blue?)

Derived terms

• tumbleweed moment

Translations