chicory

American  

[chik-uh-ree] / ˈtʃɪk ə ri /

Or chiccory

noun

• chicories
  plural

1. a composite plant, Cichorium intybus, having bright-blue flower heads and toothed oblong leaves, cultivated as a salad plant and for its root, which is used roasted and ground as a substitute for or additive to coffee.

2. the root of this plant.

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chicory British  

/ ˈtʃɪkərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: succory. a blue-flowered plant, Cichorium intybus, cultivated for its leaves, which are used in salads, and for its roots: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. the root of this plant, roasted, dried, and used as a coffee substitute

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chicories
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of chicory

1350–1400; < Middle French chicoree, alteration of earlier cicoree (by influence of Italian cicoria ) < Latin cichorēa < Greek kichória, kíchora (neuter plurals); replacing Middle English cicoree < Middle French

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Compare meaning

How does chicory compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• chicory vs. endive

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Explanation

Chicory is a type of plant, an herb with bright blue flowers. In many parts of the world, including New Orleans, chicory is commonly added to coffee. Roasted and ground chicory root has frequently been used as an affordable substitute during coffee shortages. What started as a desperate move in wartime and during the Great Depression became a beloved tradition in some places, where chicory-coffee mixtures are now considered a regional treat. Chicory root is also used as a sweetener, and the leaves are sometimes eaten raw in salads. The blue flowers of chicory can be spotted growing wild along highways in many parts of Europe.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chicory chicories

For my fellow morning caffeine drinkers who don't do decaf, moving over to herbal tea or the southern standby chicory can a reasonably painless switch.

From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2024

The 59 volunteers consumed 30 grams of inulin, a prebiotic from chicory root, daily for 14 days.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2023

Boudin blanc creamy white sausage and chicken mince flavoured with truffle, nutmeg and thyme served with stomp, a mashed potato of leaks, carrots and bacon, beer braised chicory and an onion and Belgian beer gravy.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2023

Both enjoyed the chicory Caesar — Fernando said he’d never eaten a Caesar salad in a restaurant before.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2023

He showed us how to search out berries, wild garlic, chicory, and cattails.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

They grow some hardy winter crops — kohlrabi, chicories — and store specialty winter squash, making each vegetable play multiple roles each pop-up.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 23, 2022

Belgian endive and radicchio are the most common tightly headed chicories, and the loose-leaf varieties include frisee, curly endive and escarole.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2022

All chicories have a slight, pleasant bitterness that stands up nicely to an assertive dressing — in this case, a mustardy vinaigrette.

From New York Times ● Jan. 31, 2022

You can't go wrong with tender Little Gems, but bitter chicories, like endive or radicchio, create a dynamic foundation — perfect for topping with zingy citrus or sweet dried fruit.

From Salon ● May 17, 2021

In the meantime the chicories should be cooking; tie each one round with a thread to keep them firm and boil them for ten minutes.

From The Belgian Cookbook by Various

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