荐 is a bound form (b.f.) meaning 'to recommend' — it almost always appears as part of two-character words like 推荐 (tuījiàn, to recommend), 介绍 (jièshào, to introduce), or 自荐 (zìjiàn, to recommend oneself). The older meanings 'straw mat' or 'grass' are rare in modern Chinese and only survive in classical compounds. You won't use 荐 alone as a standalone verb; instead, learn it as the second syllable in common recommendation-related words.