brussels sprout
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A small, leafy green vegetable: A brussels sprout is a small, round, green vegetable that resembles a miniature cabbage. It grows in clusters along the thick stalk of its plant. 2. The plant itself: The term can also refer to the plant (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) cultivated for producing these edible buds.
Usage and Examples
- As a countable noun (typically used in the plural: brussels sprouts): Refers to the individual vegetable buds.
- We are having roasted brussels sprouts with dinner.
- She doesn't like the taste of brussels sprouts.
- Referring to the plant or crop:
- The farmer planted a row of brussels sprout plants.
Advanced Usage
- The singular form "a brussels sprout" is grammatically correct but less commonly used in everyday speech than the plural, as they are typically prepared and served in multiples.
- The name is often capitalized as "Brussels sprout" because it originates from Brussels, Belgium.
Variants and Related Words
- Sprout (noun): A general term for a new growth on a plant; a young shoot. A brussels sprout is a specific type of edible sprout.
- Cabbage (noun): A related leafy green vegetable. Brussels sprouts are botanically a cultivar of the same species as cabbage.
Synonyms
- There are no direct single-word synonyms for this specific vegetable. Descriptive phrases include "miniature cabbage" or "edible bud of the plant."
Notes on Meaning
- The term almost exclusively refers to the specific vegetable and its plant. It is not used idiomatically or metaphorically in common English.
Noun
- plant grown for its stout stalks of edible small green heads resembling diminutive cabbages