Definition

Noun: 1. A variety of lettuce with crisp, tightly packed, pale green leaves forming a firm, round head: Iceberg lettuce is characterized by its crunchy texture and mild flavor. It is a specific cultivar of lettuce (Lactuca sativa).

Usage

Iceberg lettuce is primarily used as a noun to refer to the vegetable itself. It is commonly used in culinary contexts. * It is typically washed, chopped or torn, and used as the base for salads. * Its leaves can also be used as cups or wraps for other fillings. * It is often contrasted with other lettuce varieties like romaine or butterhead.

Examples

• Basic Noun:
  • For the salad, I bought a head of iceberg lettuce.
  • The recipe calls for one cup of shredded iceberg lettuce.
  • Although other greens are trendy, iceberg lettuce remains a classic choice for its crunch.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metonymically to represent something that is common, basic, or lacking in sophistication, often in contrast to more "gourmet" greens.
  • The menu moved beyond simple iceberg lettuce to feature arugula and radicchio.

Variants and Related Words

• Iceberg (noun): A common shortened form of "iceberg lettuce."
  • I'll have a burger with iceberg, tomato, and onion.
• Crisphead lettuce (noun): A broader category of lettuce that includes iceberg, referring to lettuces that form firm, dense heads.

Synonyms

• Crisphead lettuce: The general category to which iceberg belongs.
• (There are no perfect synonyms, as "iceberg lettuce" names a specific cultivar. Other words like "greens" or "lettuce" are more general.)

Related Idioms or Phrases

• The tip of the iceberg: This common idiom is not directly related to the vegetable. It refers to a small, visible part of a much larger, hidden problem or situation. It originates from the fact that most of an actual iceberg's mass is underwater and unseen.
  • The few complaints we heard are just the tip of the iceberg.
  • CRITICAL NOTE: This idiom uses "iceberg" (the large floating mass of ice), not "iceberg lettuce." They are homographs (same spelling) but refer to completely different things.

Noun

1. lettuce with crisp tightly packed light-green leaves in a firm head
   • iceberg is still the most popular lettuce