Definition

Noun 1. A tall perennial herb (Levisticum officinale) of the parsley family, native to southern Europe. * It is cultivated for its edible stalks, leaves, and seeds, which have a strong, celery-like flavor. 2. The edible parts of this plant. * The stalks can be eaten like celery or candied. * The seeds are used as a spice or can be pickled. * The leaves are used as an herb.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):
  • I planted lovage in my herb garden because it grows well in partial shade.
  • The lovage by the fence has grown over six feet tall this summer.
• Noun (Edible Part):
  • The recipe calls for a tablespoon of chopped fresh lovage leaves.
  • She used candied lovage stalks to decorate the cake.
  • The pickled lovage seeds add a unique flavor to the salad dressing.

Advanced Usage

• As a flavoring agent: Lovage is often used as a culinary herb to flavor soups, stews, stocks, and potato dishes, where it imparts a savory, celery-like note.
  • A sprig of lovage in the pot will deepen the flavor of the vegetable broth.

Variants and Related Words

• Levisticum officinale: The botanical Latin name for the lovage plant.
• Herb: A general term for plants used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume; lovage is a specific type of herb.

Synonyms

• Herb: (in the general sense of a flavoring plant)
• Note: There is no common single-word synonym for "lovage" itself, as it refers to a specific plant species.

Different Meanings

The word "lovage" has only one primary meaning, referring specifically to the Levisticum officinale plant and its edible parts. It is not commonly used in idioms or phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. stalks eaten like celery or candied like angelica; seeds used for flavoring or pickled like capers
2. herb native to southern Europe; cultivated for its edible stalks and foliage and seeds