1. a plant that breaks away from its roots when dry and is blown about by the wind
2. a situation characterized by emptiness, silence, or lack of activity
Usage: figurative

Examples

• A tumbleweed rolled across the empty desert road.
• The old western town was full of tumbleweeds blowing down Main Street.
• After his joke fell flat, there was nothing but tumbleweed in the room.
• The abandoned lot was littered with tumbleweeds and debris.
• When she asked for volunteers, all she got was tumbleweed.
• The dry tumbleweed caught fire easily in the drought conditions.