Definition

1. Noun:
   • An edible bulbous tuber from a Chinese marsh plant: This refers to the crisp, white, vegetable portion commonly used in Asian cuisine, often eaten raw or cooked.
   • A Chinese sedge (Eleocharis dulcis) yielding these edible bulb-shaped tubers: This is the specific aquatic plant from which the tuber is harvested.
   • A plant of the genus Trapa bearing spiny, four-pronged, edible nutlike fruits: This refers to a different, though similarly named, aquatic plant producing a hard, horned fruit also called a water chestnut.

Usage Examples

• Noun (referring to the tuber):
  • The stir-fry recipe calls for sliced water chestnut to add a crunchy texture.
  • I bought a can of water chestnut from the Asian market.
• Noun (referring to the plant):
  • The water chestnut grows in flooded fields and marshes.
  • Farmers cultivate the water chestnut for its edible corms.

Advanced Usage

• "Water chestnut flour": A starch or flour made from dried and ground water chestnuts, used as a thickening agent or in baking.
  • The gluten-free recipe uses water chestnut flour for the coating.
• Contextual distinction: In botanical contexts, specifying the genus ( for the tuber, for the nut) avoids confusion between the two different plants sharing the common name "water chestnut."

Variants and Related Words

• Chinese water chestnut: A more specific term for the tuber from .
• Singhara nut / Caltrop: Common names for the fruit from plants of the genus (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• For the tuber (Eleocharis dulcis): Chinese corm, pi tsi (from Cantonese).
• For the fruit (Trapa spp.): Water caltrop, buffalo nut.

Related Phrases / Compounds

• Water chestnut cake: A sweet, gelatinous cake made from water chestnut flour, common in dim sum.
  • We ordered water chestnut cake for dessert.
• Water chestnut slivers: Thinly sliced pieces of the tuber, often used as a garnish or in salads.

Noun

1. edible bulbous tuber of a Chinese marsh plant
2. Chinese sedge yielding edible bulb-shaped tubers
3. a plant of the genus Trapa bearing spiny four-pronged edible nutlike fruits