noun
turnip
TUR-nihp
Turnip (noun) means a round white or pale root vegetable, related to the cabbage family, cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Example: “She diced the turnip into the stew.”
noun
1
A round white or pale root vegetable, related to the cabbage family, cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
"She diced the turnip into the stew."
"Turnips grow well in cool weather."
2
Informal: something (or someone) considered dull or unintelligent.
"Don't be such a turnip, work it out."
How to use turnip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pale, round root vegetable often boiled, mashed, or added to stews.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mashed turnip
turnip field
swede and turnip
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- turnips
- Past tense
- turniped, turnipped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She diced the _____ into the stew.
Etymology
Probably from "turn" (perhaps because the round root looks as if it had been shaped on a lathe) combined with an old English word for the plant, related to "neep" and "parsnip".
Synonyms
View more →
white turnip
Frequently asked questions
What does “turnip” mean?
The word “turnip” means a round white or pale root vegetable, related to the cabbage family, cooked and eaten as a vegetable. In plain terms, a pale, round root vegetable often boiled, mashed, or added to stews.
How do you pronounce “turnip”?
“Turnip” is pronounced TUR-nihp (/ˈtɝ.nɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “turnip” in a sentence?
Here is “turnip” used in a sentence: “She diced the turnip into the stew.”
What part of speech is “turnip”?
“Turnip” is a noun.
Where does the word “turnip” come from?
The word “turnip” comes from Old English. Probably from "turn" (perhaps because the round root looks as if it had been shaped on a lathe) combined with an old English word for the plant, related to "neep" and "parsnip".
How many meanings does “turnip” have?
“Turnip” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a round white or pale root vegetable, related to the cabbage family, cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
