broccoli
Americannoun
noun
-
a cultivated variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea italica , having branched greenish flower heads
-
the flower head of this plant, eaten as a vegetable before the buds have opened
-
a variety of this plant that does not form a head, whose stalks are eaten as a vegetable
Usage
What else does broccoli mean? Content warning: this article references illicit drugs. When not referring to the actual vegetable, broccoli is slang for "marijuana."
Etymology
Origin of broccoli
1690–1700; < Italian, plural of broccolo, equivalent to brocc ( o ) sprout (< Late Latin; see broach) + -olo diminutive suffix
Vocabulary lists containing broccoli
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.
The key to this greens-packed soup recipe is its base: a broth made from the stems of greens — kale, escarole, broccoli — plus spinach.
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026
He grows cauliflowers, broccoli, leeks and brussel sprouts around Comber in County Down.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Foods rich in soluble fiber include many fruits and vegetables, such as apples, avocados, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.
From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026
A little pasta water and a shower of Parmesan will turn blended squash, stewed greens, roasted red peppers — even broccoli — into something glossy and luxurious.
From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026
Mom runs over from the broccoli and grabs my arm.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
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.
