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noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

cabbage

KA-bihj

Cabbage (noun) means a leafy vegetable grown as a round, tightly packed head, eaten cooked or raw. Example: “She shredded half a cabbage into the coleslaw.”

noun
1
A leafy vegetable grown as a round, tightly packed head, eaten cooked or raw.
"She shredded half a cabbage into the coleslaw."
"Boiled cabbage was a staple of his grandmother's kitchen."
2
(slang) Money.
"He made serious cabbage flipping used cars."
verb
1
(informal, dated) To steal small amounts of something, especially fabric offcuts.
"The tailor was known to cabbage scraps of cloth for himself."

How to Use Cabbage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe round leafy vegetable you see in coleslaw and stir-fries; slang for money or, as a verb, for petty pilfering.

Common mistake

As a verb ("to cabbage" something) it's old-fashioned slang for stealing scraps — not used in everyday speech.

Common pairings
a head of cabbage red cabbage cabbage soup

Word Forms

cabbaged past tense, cabbaged past tense, cabbages plural, cabbages singular, cabbages singular

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Test yourself on “cabbage” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She shredded half a _____ into the coleslaw.

Etymology

From Middle English caboche ("head"), borrowed from Anglo-Norman caboche, likely built from Latin caput ("head") — the cabbage was named for its round, head-like shape.

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for cabbage

See all rhymes for cabbage →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cabbage” mean?

The word “cabbage” means a leafy vegetable grown as a round, tightly packed head, eaten cooked or raw. In plain terms, the round leafy vegetable you see in coleslaw and stir-fries; slang for money or, as a verb, for petty pilfering.

How do you pronounce “cabbage”?

“Cabbage” is pronounced KA-bihj (/ˈkæbɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “cabbage” in a sentence?

Here is “cabbage” used in a sentence: “She shredded half a cabbage into the coleslaw.”

What is another word for “cabbage”?

Words with a similar meaning to “cabbage” include cabbage plant and cole.

What part of speech is “cabbage”?

Depending on how it is used, “cabbage” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cabbage” come from?

The word “cabbage” comes from Latin. From Middle English caboche ("head"), borrowed from Anglo-Norman caboche, likely built from Latin caput ("head") — the cabbage was named for its round, head-like shape.

Is “cabbage” a common word?

“Cabbage” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “cabbage” have?

“Cabbage” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a leafy vegetable grown as a round, tightly packed head, eaten cooked or raw.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial