carrot
pronunciation
How to pronounce carrot in British English:
UK [ˈkærət]
How to pronounce carrot in American English:
US [ˈkærət]
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- Noun:
- deep orange edible root of the cultivated carrot plant
- perennial plant widely cultivated as an annual in many varieties for its long conical deep-orange edible roots; temperate and tropical regions
- orange root; important source of carotene
- promise of reward as in "carrot and stick"
Word Origin
- carrot (n.)
- 1530s, from Middle French carrotte, from Latin carota, from Greek karoton "carrot," probably from PIE *kre-, from root *ker- (1) "horn, head" (see horn (n.)); so called for its horn-like shape. Originally white-rooted and a medicinal plant to the ancients, who used it as an aphrodisiac and to prevent poisoning. Not entirely distinguished from parsnips in ancient times. Reintroduced in Europe by Arabs c. 1100. The orange carrot, which existed perhaps as early as 6c., probably began as a mutation of the Asian purple carrot and was cultivated into the modern edible plant 16c.-17c. in the Netherlands. Thus the word is used as a color name but not before 1670s in English, originally of red hair.
Example
- 1. Finally stir in the carrot mixture and the walnuts .
- 2. The donkey noticed the carrot and jumped up .
- 3. Can you peel the carrot for me ?
- 4. Carrot plant is cultivated across the world for its prized taproot .
- 5. If you 're worried about the fat content go suck a carrot .