carrot
5 synonyms for carrot, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A long, tapering orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use carrot
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a carrot and stick approach
dangle a carrot
grated carrot
Etymology
From French carotte, ultimately from Greek karoton — the same root as "carotene," the pigment that gives carrots (and some other vegetables) their orange colour.
Full origin of carrot →Frequently asked questions
What does “carrot” mean?
The word “carrot” means a long, tapering orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked. In plain terms, the orange vegetable, or (figuratively) a reward used to encourage someone.
How do you pronounce “carrot”?
“Carrot” is pronounced KA-ruht (/ˈkæɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “carrot” in a sentence?
Here is “carrot” used in a sentence: “She chopped carrots into the stew.”
What part of speech is “carrot”?
“Carrot” is a noun.
Where does the word “carrot” come from?
The word “carrot” comes from French. From French carotte, ultimately from Greek karoton — the same root as "carotene," the pigment that gives carrots (and some other vegetables) their orange colour.
Is “carrot” a common word?
“Carrot” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “carrot” have?
“Carrot” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, tapering orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked.
What is the difference between a carrot the vegetable and a carrot as an incentive?
A carrot in the literal sense is a long, tapering orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked, while a carrot used figuratively means an incentive or reward offered to persuade someone to act. The figurative sense is often paired with 'stick' in the phrase 'carrot and stick,' contrasting reward with punishment.
What does it mean to dangle a carrot in front of someone?
To dangle a carrot means to offer an incentive or reward to motivate someone to do something, using the figurative sense of carrot as an enticement.
Is carrot ever used as a verb?
No, carrot functions only as a noun, referring either to the root vegetable or to an incentive; there is no established verb use.
