tumbleweed

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place; as Russian thistle, wild indigo, witch grass, Amaranthus albus, etc.
2. (attributive, countable, uncountable)Describing unwanted silence and inactivity. Often used of a situation when one makes a statement that is ignored or ill-received by one's audience, as the resultant silence is likened to that of a desolate desert with rolling tumbleweeds.

   “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.”

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

3. (countable, uncountable)A tan colour, like that of a tumbleweed.