capsicum
Americannoun
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any plant of the genus Capsicum, of the nightshade family, as C. annuum, the common pepper of the garden, occurring in many varieties.
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the fruit of such a plant or some preparation of it, used as a condiment and intestinal stimulant.
noun
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any tropical American plant of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, such as C. frutescens, having mild or pungent seeds enclosed in a pod-shaped or bell-shaped fruit
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the fruit of any of these plants, used as a vegetable or ground to produce a condiment
Etymology
Origin of capsicum
1655–65; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin caps ( a ) case 2 + -icum, neuter of -icus -ic
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.
Capsicum annuum Black Pearl, a pepper that doesn’t look like a pepper, also made its way into the garden, likewise started from seed.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 18, 2023
Dr. Tripodi and his colleagues focused on the most widely consumed pepper group, Capsicum annuum, the species that is grown into bell peppers of all colors, cayenne peppers and jalapeños.
From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2021
All of these dishes have in common the humble pepper plant, or Capsicum spp.
From New York Times • Aug. 17, 2021
Accounts differ as to when exactly McIlhenny acquired the seeds for those Capsicum frutescens peppers.
From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2014
Different varieties of the same species replace each other among the kidney beans, lima beans, the chili pepper Capsicum annuum / chinense, and the squash Cucurbita pepo.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
