carrot
KA-ruht
Carrot (noun) means a long, tapering orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked. Example: “She chopped carrots into the stew.”
noun
1
A long, tapering orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked.
"She chopped carrots into the stew."
"Rabbits are famous for loving carrots."
2
An incentive or reward offered to persuade someone to do something.
"The manager offered a bonus as a carrot to boost sales."
"The government dangled tax breaks as a carrot for new businesses."
How to use carrot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe orange vegetable, or (figuratively) a reward used to encourage someone.
Memory tip
The phrase "carrot and stick" means using both rewards and threats to get someone to act.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a carrot and stick approach
dangle a carrot
grated carrot
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Word forms
- Plural
- carrots
- Third person singular
- carrots
- Past tense
- carroted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She chopped _____ into the stew.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for carrot
See all rhymes for 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.
