noun
eggplant
EHG-plant
Eggplant (noun) means a vegetable with smooth, glossy purple (or sometimes white) skin, also called an aubergine. Example: “She sliced the eggplant thin and grilled it with olive oil.”
noun
1
A vegetable with smooth, glossy purple (or sometimes white) skin, also called an aubergine.
"She sliced the eggplant thin and grilled it with olive oil."
"This curry recipe calls for two large eggplants."
2
A deep purple color, similar to the skin of the vegetable.
"She painted the bedroom walls a rich eggplant shade."
How to use eggplant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the purple vegetable (aubergine) or the dark purple color named after it.
UK vs US
American English says "eggplant"; British English almost always says "aubergine" instead.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
grilled eggplant
eggplant parmesan
eggplant purple
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Word forms
- Plural
- eggplants
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sliced the _____ thin and grilled it with olive oil.
Etymology
From egg + plant — early Western varieties were small, white, and egg-shaped, which gave the vegetable its name even though most eggplants today are purple.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “eggplant” mean?
The word “eggplant” means a vegetable with smooth, glossy purple (or sometimes white) skin, also called an aubergine. In plain terms, either the purple vegetable (aubergine) or the dark purple color named after it.
How do you pronounce “eggplant”?
“Eggplant” is pronounced EHG-plant (/ˈɛɡ.plænt/ in IPA).
How do you use “eggplant” in a sentence?
Here is “eggplant” used in a sentence: “She sliced the eggplant thin and grilled it with olive oil.”
What part of speech is “eggplant”?
“Eggplant” is a noun.
How many meanings does “eggplant” have?
“Eggplant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a vegetable with smooth, glossy purple (or sometimes white) skin, also called an aubergine.
