Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of plant: A tropical or subtropical plant belonging to the genus Capsicum, which produces edible fruits with many seeds. These fruits are commonly known as peppers.
   • The fruit of this plant: The hollow, many-seeded berry produced by a capsicum plant. This includes varieties that range from sweet to very hot (pungent).

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The garden includes several varieties of capsicum, such as bell peppers and chili peppers.
  • Capsicum annuum is the most widely cultivated species of capsicum.
  • The recipe calls for one red capsicum, finely chopped.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical or scientific contexts: The term "capsicum" is used precisely to refer to the plant genus, distinguishing it from the black pepper plant ().
  • The study focused on the capsaicin content across different Capsicum species.

Variants and Related Words

• Capsaicin (n): The chemical compound that gives hot peppers their pungent, spicy heat.
  • Capsaicin is concentrated in the placental tissue inside a capsicum fruit.
• Bell pepper (n): A large, sweet variety of capsicum with a mild flavor and a bell-like shape.
• Chili pepper (n): A general term for the smaller, often hot varieties of capsicum fruit.

Synonyms

• Pepper: The common name for the fruit of capsicum plants. (Note: This can cause confusion with black pepper.)
• Sweet pepper: Specifically for non-pungent varieties.
• Hot pepper: Specifically for pungent varieties.

Related Phrases

• Capsicum extract: A concentrated substance derived from capsicum fruits, often used in food flavoring or medicinal creams.
  • The ointment contains capsicum extract to relieve muscle pain.

Noun

1. chiefly tropical perennial shrubby plants having many-seeded fruits: sweet and hot peppers
2. any of various tropical plants of the genus Capsicum bearing peppers