asparagus
Americannoun
-
any plant of the genus Asparagus, of the lily family, especially A. officianalis, cultivated for its edible shoots.
-
the shoots, eaten as a vegetable.
noun
-
any Eurasian liliaceous plant of the genus Asparagus, esp the widely cultivated A. officinalis, having small scaly or needle-like leaves
-
the succulent young shoots of A. officinalis, which may be cooked and eaten
-
a fernlike species of asparagus, A. plumosus, native to southern Africa
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of asparagus
before 1000; < Latin < Greek asp ( h ) áragos; replacing Old English sparagi (< Medieval Latin ) and later sperage, sparrowgrass
Explanation
Asparagus is a bright green vegetable that is tender and sweet when it's cooked. Asparagus grows straight up out of the ground in a spear shape. The plant that grows familiar asparagus spears is actually a relative of the lily — it's considered to be a flowering plant, and a perennial, or a plant that returns every year. Asparagus has been eaten for centuries, and is even pictured in some ancient Egyptian art. The word is also asparagus in Latin, from the Greek asparagos, possibly from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "to spring up."
Vocabulary lists containing asparagus
Green
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Schwa Was Here
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Rez Dogs
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But then, it’s hard not to smile at the playfully elegant Bosc pears, puckered mandarins and green-and-purple asparagus taper candles which range in price from $12 to $40.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Luckily, farmers markets this time of year are full of spring produce that are right at home in a primavera: asparagus, snap peas, chives, leeks and fresh herbs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
It did so, nominating thousands of ingredients, including, for example, purified water and asparagus.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026
And for the evening meal, it's salmon, asparagus and brown rice.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026
He would have given half his fortune, if he had one, for a nice piece of raw, red meat, instead of the usual breast of chicken or scrambled eggs with asparagus.
From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
