watercress
Americannoun
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a cress, Nasturtium officinale, of the mustard family, usually growing in clear, running streams and having pungent leaves.
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the leaves, used for salads, soups, and as a garnish.
noun
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an Old World plant, Nasturtium officinale , of clear ponds and streams, having pungent leaves that are used in salads and as a garnish: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
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any of several similar or related plants
Etymology
Origin of watercress
1300–50; Middle English; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German waterkerse. See water, cress
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.
Or the gallant, pragmatic 8-year-old street hawker selling watercress in Victorian London: “All my money I earns I puts in a club and draws it out to buy clothes with.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
A 17-time world watercress eating champion is preparing to defend his title at an annual event celebrating the leafy green vegetable.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
Alresford became the centre of the watercress industry in 1865, when the rail line to the Georgian town opened, enabling farmers to get their leaves to market in Covent Garden.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
Unbeknownst to many is that watercress is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables, alongside cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and bok choy.
From Salon ● May 14, 2025
Young otters collected watercress and fished; Cornflower headed a party of mice to reap the early cereal crops; more youngsters tended the salad gardens.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
