Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cultivated cabbage plant: A variety of cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata) characterized by a short, thick central stem (stalk) and a large, dense, rounded mass of leaves that forms the edible part of the plant.
   • The edible part of this plant: The large, compact, globular (ball-shaped) head of leaves produced by this plant, which is typically green but can also be white or red. This head is the part consumed as a vegetable.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer grows several rows of head cabbage in his field. (Referring to the plant)
  • For the salad, please shred one whole head cabbage. (Referring to the edible head)
  • Compared to loose-leaf varieties, head cabbage stores for much longer.

Advanced Usage

• The term "head cabbage" is often used to distinguish the common, rounded cabbage from other forms in the same species, such as savoy cabbage (which has crinkled leaves) or Chinese cabbage (which forms a more elongated head).
• In agricultural or botanical contexts, it specifies the cultivated form grown primarily for its dense terminal head.

Variants and Related Words

• Head cabbage plant (n): A more precise term for the plant itself.
• White cabbage (n): A common type of head cabbage with smooth, pale green leaves.
• Red cabbage (n): A type of head cabbage with dark red-purple leaves.
• Cabbagehead (n, informal): A slang term for a foolish or stupid person (idiomatic, not related to the vegetable's physical properties).

Synonyms

• Green cabbage (when referring to the common green variety)
• Round cabbage
• Common cabbage

Related Phrases

• Cabbage head: This phrase can literally refer to the edible head of a cabbage plant. It is also the source of the informal term "cabbagehead" meaning a fool.
  • The recipe calls for one cabbage head, finely chopped.

Related Idioms

• To be like two heads of cabbage in a row: (Rare, illustrative) An idiom highlighting uniformity or lack of distinction.
  • The new housing development is boring; every house is like two heads of cabbage in a row.

Noun

1. any of several varieties of cabbage having a large compact globular head; may be steamed or boiled or stir-fried or used raw in coleslaw
2. any of various cultivated cabbage plants having a short thick stalk and large compact head of edible usually green leaves