Definition

Noun: 1. A pungent fruit of a Capsicum plant: Any of various spicy or pungent fruits from plants of the genus Capsicum, used as a vegetable or spice. 2. The plant producing such fruits: A plant, especially Capsicum frutescens or Capsicum chinense, that bears very hot, medium-sized, oblong red peppers.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the fruit:
  • I added some chopped hot pepper to the chili for extra heat.
  • Jalapeños and habaneros are both types of hot pepper.
• Referring to the plant:
  • She grows several hot pepper plants in her garden each summer.
  • This variety of hot pepper is cultivated mainly for making hot sauce.

Advanced Usage

• "Hot pepper" as a category: The term is often used generically to refer to any chili pepper that has significant pungency or "heat," as opposed to sweet bell peppers.
  • Be careful when handling hot peppers; the oils can burn your skin.

Variants and Related Words

• Chili pepper (or chilli pepper): A very common synonym for the fruit of a hot pepper plant.
• Capsicum: The botanical genus name for plants that produce both sweet and hot peppers.
• Hot sauce: A condiment made primarily from hot peppers, vinegar, and salt.

Synonyms

• Chili (or chile)
• Chili pepper
• Pungent pepper

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Hot pepper flakes: Dried, crushed hot peppers, often used as a seasoning (e.g., red pepper flakes).
• Hot pepper oil: An infused oil made with hot peppers.
• Stuffed hot peppers: A dish where hot peppers are filled with ingredients like cheese or meat.

Noun

1. any of various pungent capsicum fruits
2. plant bearing very hot medium-sized oblong red peppers; grown principally in the Gulf Coast states for production of hot sauce