Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, bell-shaped sweet pepper: A type of large, mild, sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) with a characteristic bell shape. It is available in multiple colors, most commonly green, red, yellow, orange, and sometimes purple/black, with the color indicating its ripeness and flavor profile.
   • The plant that produces this fruit: The plant that bears these large, mild, thick-walled, typically bell-shaped fruits, which are commonly used as salad peppers or in cooking.

Usage Examples

• Noun (referring to the fruit):
  • The recipe calls for one red bell pepper, diced.
  • Green bell peppers are less sweet than the red or yellow varieties.
• Noun (referring to the plant):
  • We are growing bell peppers in our vegetable garden this summer.

Advanced Usage

• The term "bell pepper" is primarily used in American English and Canada. In British English and some other Commonwealth countries, it is commonly called a "pepper" or "capsicum".
• Colors indicate ripeness and sweetness: Green bell peppers are the unripe version, which then turn yellow/orange, and finally red as they fully ripen and become sweeter.

Variants and Related Words

• Sweet pepper: A general synonym for bell pepper, emphasizing its lack of spiciness.
• Capsicum: The botanical genus name and a common term for bell peppers in many countries outside North America.
• Paprika pepper: A specific type of pepper often dried and ground to make the spice paprika; some varieties are similar to bell peppers.

Synonyms

• Sweet pepper
• Capsicum (in many international contexts)

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Stuffed bell pepper: A dish where a hollowed-out bell pepper is filled with a mixture (e.g., rice, meat, vegetables) and baked.
  • For dinner, we had stuffed bell peppers with ground beef and rice.

Noun

1. large bell-shaped sweet pepper in green or red or yellow or orange or black varieties
2. plant bearing large mild thick-walled usually bell-shaped fruits; the principal salad peppers