Definition

Noun: 1. A plant variety: A cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea gongylodes, characterized by a thick, fleshy, turnip-shaped edible stem that grows above ground. It is also known as kohlrabi. 2. An edible part: The thick, bulbous, edible stem (or the entire plant) of the kohlrabi plant, used as a vegetable.

Usage Examples

• As a plant:
  • The farmer grows turnip cabbage in his winter garden.
  • Unlike most cabbages, the turnip cabbage develops a swollen stem.
• As a food item:
  • She peeled and diced the turnip cabbage for the soup.
  • You can eat turnip cabbage raw in salads or cooked.

Advanced Usage

• The term "turnip cabbage" is less common in everyday American English, where "kohlrabi" is the standard term. "Turnip cabbage" is more descriptive, highlighting its cabbage family origin and turnip-like shape.
• It is distinct from a rutabaga (Swedish turnip), which is a different species () with an edible root.

Variants and Related Words

• Kohlrabi (n): The most common name for the same plant and vegetable.
• German turnip (n): Another occasional name for kohlrabi.
• Stem cabbage (n): A descriptive name focusing on the edible part being the stem.

Synonyms

• Kohlrabi
• German turnip

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning refers to the specific vegetable plant kohlrabi. It is not typically used to refer to a regular cabbage that resembles a turnip, nor to a turnip that tastes like cabbage. The name is a direct translation from parts of its taxonomic name and describes its appearance.

Noun

1. fleshy turnip-shaped edible stem of the kohlrabi plant
2. a cruciferous plant with a thick bulbous edible yellow root