cruciferous

[kroo-sif-er-uhs]

adjective

1. bearing a cross.

2. Botany.,  belonging to the family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae), the mustard family of plants; brassicaceous.

   Are you getting enough broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables in your diet?

cruciferous

/ kruːˈsɪfərəs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the plant family Cruciferae See crucifer

Word History and Origins

Origin of cruciferous¹

From Late Latin crucifer + -ous; cruciferous def. 1 was first recorded in 1650–60; cruciferous def. 2 in 1850–55; crucifer, -ous

Example Sentences

Unbeknownst to many is that watercress is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables, alongside cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and bok choy.

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For some, the cruciferous vegetable has a certain old-world appeal, buoyed by economic practicality and nostalgia.

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It is nutrient-packed, like the rest of its cruciferous brethren, yet it has not always garnered the same respect as cauliflower, Brussels spouts or even broccoli.

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Root vegetables — like carrots, onions, potatoes and beets — winter squashes, cruciferous vegetables and greens are just a few notable cold-weather favorites.

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Investigators also looked into whether consuming soy, lignans, cruciferous vegetables and green tea, or their phytonutrients in the diet before or after breast cancer diagnosis made a difference.

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