capsicum

American  

[kap-si-kuhm] / ˈkæp sɪ kəm /

noun

capsicums plural

1. any plant of the genus Capsicum, of the nightshade family, as C. annuum, the common pepper of the garden, occurring in many varieties.

2. the fruit of such a plant or some preparation of it, used as a condiment and intestinal stimulant.

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capsicum British  

/ ˈkæpsɪkəm /

noun

1. any tropical American plant of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, such as C. frutescens, having mild or pungent seeds enclosed in a pod-shaped or bell-shaped fruit

2. the fruit of any of these plants, used as a vegetable or ground to produce a condiment

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• capsicums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of capsicum

1655–65; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin caps ( a ) case ² + -icum, neuter of -icus -ic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capsicum capsicums

It said average prices for fruit and vegetables dipped 12% with berries, lettuce, cucumbers, capsicum, and tomatoes all declining "materially", the company said.

From Reuters ● Oct. 25, 2023

Diets following this pattern should deliver ample iron from meats, breads and cereals, as well as iron absorption promotors such as oranges, capsicum and other fresh fruits and vegetables?.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2023

The CaJohn’s gum has the same active ingredient as police-grade pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 8, 2023

The board first voted in early 2019 to ban all juvenile detention facilities from deploying pepper spray, also known as oleoresin capsicum or OC spray.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2022

But capsicum being cheaper is more used, and by its tasteless though extremely hot quality, cannot be so readily discovered in beer as ginger.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

However, the researchers expect similar benefits from other vitamin C rich foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables such as citrus, berries, capsicums and broccoli.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 26, 2025

Salicylates occur naturally in many healthy foods, including apples, berries, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, capsicums, nuts, seeds, spices and some grains.

From Salon ● May 28, 2024

At the local organic vegetable market, the harried grocer displays capsicums, cauliflower and potatoes naked, but sells them in fastened plastic bags.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 19, 2019

The warning was warranted as the two very experienced chiliheads sweated, writhed in pain and briefly lost the ability to speak after each chewing and swallowing one of the bright-red capsicums.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2013

Those that flower newly are nigella, zinnias, polyanthuses, love-apples, mignonette, capsicums, Michaelmas daisies, auriculus, asters or stars, and China-asters.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 267, August 4, 1827 by Various