eggplant

[eg-plant, -plahnt]

noun

1. a plant, Solanum melongena esculentum, of the nightshade family, cultivated for its edible, dark-purple or occasionally white or yellow fruit.

2. the fruit of this plant used as a table vegetable.

3. a blackish purple color; aubergine.

eggplant

/ ˈɛɡˌplɑːnt /

noun

1. a tropical Old World solanaceous plant, Solanum melongena, widely cultivated for its egg-shaped typically dark purple fruit

2. the fruit of this plant, which is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

Word History and Origins

Origin of eggplant¹

First recorded in 1760–70; egg ¹ + plant

Example Sentences

Somewhere between the eggplants and the onions, she disappeared behind a door and emerged with a perfect ruby orb.

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“It’s All Good” recommends cutting coffee, sugar, wheat, eggs, meat, shellfish, potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant and corn.

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There was always a steady supply of bitter melon, eggplant, gai lan and bok choy.

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On the runway, tomatoes joined eggplants, zucchinis, hot peppers and Farfalle pasta as big, bold prints in Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection.

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Roots and vegetables are natural fits: turnips, parsnips, cauliflower, mushrooms, roasted eggplant, fennel, sunchokes.

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