celery

American  

[sel-uh-ree, sel-ree] / ˈsɛl ə ri, ˈsɛl ri /

noun

1. a plant, Apium graveolens, of the parsley family, whose leafstalks are eaten raw or cooked.

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celery British  

/ ˈsɛlərɪ /

noun

1. an umbelliferous Eurasian plant, Apium graveolens dulce, whose blanched leafstalks are used in salads or cooked as a vegetable See also celeriac

2. a related and similar plant, Apium graveolens

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Etymology

Origin of celery

1655–65; < French céleri < Italian seleri, plural of selero ≪ Greek sélinon parsley

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Explanation

Celery is a very crunchy, succulent vegetable that grows in stalks. You can cook celery, often with more flavorful vegetables, or eat it raw. Celery is a very mild-flavored vegetable that adds crunch to a salad or a subtle taste to sauteed onions and garlic. Your grandmother might love to serve "ants on a log," or peanut butter in the hollow of a celery stalk, with raisins as the "ants." Depending on your feelings about celery, you might feel slightly less enthusiastic.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

celery

The Taylor family is credited with helping to pioneer numerous innovations, from bagged salads to the U.S. industry’s first automated harvesters for romaine lettuce, cabbage and celery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Some are molded into corn on the cob, celery and rhubarb shapes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

Dame Mary, 91, recalled how, during wartime, her father grew practical crops such as potatoes, sweet peas and celery to feed the family.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

Spinach, arugula, fennel, celery, and kale are also good dietary sources.

From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026

Despereaux smelled the sharp, clean scent of celery as the threadmaster bent his head, took hold of the thread around Despereaux's neck in his sharp teeth, and pulled on it hard.

From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo

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