cauliflower

American  

[kaw-luh-flou-er, -lee-, kol-uh-, kol-ee-] / ˈkɔ ləˌflaʊ ər, -li-, ˈkɒl ə-, ˈkɒl i- /

noun

1. a form of cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea botrytis, of the mustard family, whose inflorescence forms a compact, usually whitish head.

2. this head, used as a vegetable.

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cauliflower British  

/ ˈkɒlɪˌflaʊə /

noun

1. a variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea botrytis, having a large edible head of crowded white flowers on a very short thick stem

2. the flower head of this plant, used as a vegetable

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Etymology

Origin of cauliflower

1590–1600; < Latin cauli ( s ) cole + flower; replacing coleflorie < Italian ca ( v ) olfiore, equivalent to cavol cole + fiore < Latin flōri- (stem of flōs ) flower

Explanation

Cauliflower is a distinctive white vegetable that's related to broccoli and cabbage. Many Indian dishes include cauliflower. A head of cauliflower is made up of many dense, white, flower-like clusters, and occasionally cauliflower comes in varieties that are slightly purple or green. Cauliflower can be eaten raw, steamed, roasted, grilled or sauteed. In the 1590s, it was originally called cole florye, from the Italian cavoli fiori, "flowered cabbage."

Example Sentences

Take her One-Pan Peanut and Cauliflower Stew, which combines peanut butter, ginger, coconut milk, garlic, rice and curry powder with simmering cauliflower florets.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

Cauliflower corals in the genus Pocillopora stayed in good health through the heat events, and their microbiomes also showed an ecological memory response, she noted.

From Science Daily • Dec. 18, 2023

If the trial run goes well, the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich could come to national menus within six months to a year.

From Washington Times • Feb. 9, 2023

Cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza, cauliflower tots: can't get enough cauliflower?

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2022

We believe that if cauliflower growers could distribute freely to their customers the information found in the chapter on cooking in this work on Cauliflower it would result in largely increased sales.

From The Cauliflower by Crozier, A. A. (Arthur Alger)