dill

American  

[dil] / dɪl /

noun

1. a plant, Anethum graveolens, of the parsley family, having aromatic seeds and finely divided leaves, both of which are used for flavoring food.

2. dillweed.

3. dill pickle.

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dill ¹ British  

/ dɪl /

noun

1. an umbelliferous aromatic Eurasian plant, Anethum graveolens, with finely dissected leaves and umbrella-shaped clusters of yellow flowers

2. the leaves or seedlike fruits of this plant, used for flavouring in pickles, soups, etc, and in medicine

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dill ² British  

noun

1. informal a fool; idiot

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Other Word Forms

• dilled adjective
• dilly adjective

Etymology

Origin of dill

before 900; Middle English di ( l ) le, Old English dile; akin to German Dill, Swedish dill

Example Sentences

The dill should read bright and grassy, a little unruly.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

You might say they were kind of a big dill.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

The smell of dill wafting through the air.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Labneh + minced hot dill pickles + a spoonful of brine.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

She sat an empty dill pickle jar on the table next to her savings chart.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia