Definition

Noun 1. A salad plant: An erect, fast-growing European annual plant (Eruca vesicaria sativa) cultivated for its edible leaves, which are harvested young and tender for use in salads. It is known for its distinctive, peppery, and slightly nutty flavor.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The chef garnished the dish with fresh garden rocket.
  • We grow garden rocket in our vegetable patch every spring.
  • A simple salad of garden rocket, parmesan, and lemon juice is delicious.

Advanced Usage

• As a culinary term: The term is primarily used in culinary and gardening contexts to specify the plant variety used for its leaves, distinguishing it from other, non-edible "rocket" plants or wild arugula, which can be more pungent.

Variants and Related Words

• Arugula (n): The more common name for this plant in American English.
  • In the US, this plant is typically called arugula.
• Rocket (n): The common name for this plant in British and Commonwealth English.
  • The recipe calls for 50 grams of rocket.
• Roquette (n): An alternative, chiefly French-derived spelling.
• Colewort (n): An older or more botanical term sometimes used for plants in the family, which includes garden rocket.

Synonyms

• Arugula
• Rocket
• Roquette
• Salad rocket

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to the cultivated form of the plant grown as a leafy green vegetable. It is distinct from wild varieties, which may be referred to simply as "wild rocket" and often have a stronger, more bitter taste. The defining characteristic is its use as a tender, young salad green.

Noun

1. erect European annual often grown as a salad crop to be harvested when young and tender