cress

[ kres ]

noun

1. any of various plants of the mustard family, especially the watercress, having pungent-tasting leaves often used for salad and as a garnish.
2. any of various similar plants.

cress

/ krɛs /

noun

1. See garden cress, watercress
   any of various plants of the genera Lepidium , Cardamine , Arabis , etc, having pungent-tasting leaves often used in salads and as a garnish: family Brassicaceae (crucifers) See also watercress garden cress

Other Words From

• cressy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cress¹

before 900; Middle English cresse, Old English cress ( a ), cresse; cognate with Dutch kers, German Kresse

Word History and Origins

Origin of cress¹

Old English cressa; related to Old High German cresso cress, kresan to crawl

Example Sentences

In other words, the thale cress’s DNA had to fight harder to adapt to the foreign soil gathered during the Apollo 11 mission.

From Time

This romantic little creature took such hold of my imagination that I cannot eat water-cress even now without emotion.

From Project Gutenberg

But as long as we have people like young Cress or Hodge or Rottke—well, it's hard to do anything with them.

From Project Gutenberg

He crowned himself and Jim with wreaths made of water cress that he found on a tiny sandy beach.

From Project Gutenberg

Then there is a salmon salad encircled by water cress or nasturtium leaves, and at intervals, dainty mounds of potato salad.

From Project Gutenberg

A few varieties, however, are cultivated, and these are grown in dry soil and known as upland cress.

From Project Gutenberg