broccoli
BROK-uh-lee
Broccoli (noun) means a vegetable with tight green flower clusters on a thick edible stalk, related to cabbage. Example: “She steamed some broccoli to go with dinner.”
noun
1
A vegetable with tight green flower clusters on a thick edible stalk, related to cabbage.
"She steamed some broccoli to go with dinner."
"Kids often complain about eating their broccoli."
2
Slang for marijuana.
"He joked that he was just growing "broccoli" in his closet."
How to use broccoli
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe green vegetable with little tree-like florets that gets served steamed or roasted.
Common pairings
steamed broccoli
broccoli florets
broccoli and cheese
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Word forms
- Plural
- broccolis
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She steamed some _____ to go with dinner.
Etymology
Borrowed in the late 1600s from Italian broccoli, plural of broccolo ("cabbage sprout"), from brocco ("shoot" or "sprout") — a relative of "brocade" and "brochure," which share the same Latin root for something pointed.
Class of 1600
broccoli joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Related words
Rhymes for broccoli
See all rhymes for broccoli →Frequently asked questions
What does “broccoli” mean?
The word “broccoli” means a vegetable with tight green flower clusters on a thick edible stalk, related to cabbage. In plain terms, the green vegetable with little tree-like florets that gets served steamed or roasted.
How do you pronounce “broccoli”?
“Broccoli” is pronounced BROK-uh-lee (/ˈbɹɑ.kə.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “broccoli” in a sentence?
Here is “broccoli” used in a sentence: “She steamed some broccoli to go with dinner.”
What part of speech is “broccoli”?
“Broccoli” is a noun.
Where does the word “broccoli” come from?
The word “broccoli” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Latin. Borrowed in the late 1600s from Italian broccoli, plural of broccolo ("cabbage sprout"), from brocco ("shoot" or "sprout") — a relative of "brocade" and "brochure," which share the same Latin root for something pointed.
Is “broccoli” a common word?
“Broccoli” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “broccoli” have?
“Broccoli” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a vegetable with tight green flower clusters on a thick edible stalk, related to cabbage.
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