aubergine
Americannoun
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US, Canadian, and Australian name: eggplant. a tropical Old World solanaceous plant, Solanum melongena, widely cultivated for its egg-shaped typically dark purple fruit
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the fruit of this plant, which is cooked and eaten as a vegetable
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a dark purple colour
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( as adjective )
an aubergine dress
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Etymology
Origin of aubergine
First recorded in 1785–95; from French, from Catalan albargínia, from Arabic al “the” + bādhinjān “eggplant,” from Persian bādingān, perhaps from Indo-Aryan; compare Sanskrit vātiṅgaṇaḥ
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Explanation
An aubergine is a plant that grows large, dark purple fruits. If you live in North America, you probably call aubergines "eggplants." People who live in the United Kingdom use the word aubergine for these big, heavy, squash-like fruits. You probably think of them as vegetables, whether you call them aubergines or eggplants. One common way to serve them is fried in bread crumbs and covered in melty cheese. The word aubergine has a Sanskrit root, and it's commonly used to describe the rich, deep purple color of a ripe aubergine.
Vocabulary lists containing aubergine
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.
"Aubergine boss" is a hashtag on RedNote, where fans draw different expressions on the plushie.
From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026
Aubergine A Korean American chef deals with a terminally ill father, an ex-girlfriend and others in Julia Cho’s drama; contains adult language; for ages 14 and up.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2019
SALINAS, California — I was first able to appreciate the allure of Salinas during an eight-course dinner at Aubergine, a restaurant 40 minutes away in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2017
I was first able to appreciate the allure of Salinas, Calif., during an eight-course dinner at Aubergine, a restaurant 40 minutes away in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2017
One day, a slave-girl from the palace, happening to pass by the Brahman's cottage, went in to ask for a light, and there she saw the beautiful Aubergine.
From Tales of the Punjab by Steel, Flora Annie
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.
