fennel
Americannoun
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a plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, having feathery leaves and umbels of small, yellow flowers.
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Also fennel seed the aromatic fruits of Foeniculum vulgare, used in cooking and medicine.
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any of various plants more or less similar to Foeniculum vulgare, such as Ferula communis giant fennel, a tall, ornamental plant.
noun
Etymology
Origin of fennel
First recorded before 900; Middle English fenel, Old English fenol, variant of finu ( g ) l from unattested Vulgar Latin fenuclum, for Latin fēniculum, faeniculum, equivalent to faeni- (combining form of faenum “hay”) + -culum -cle 1
Vocabulary lists containing fennel
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For their study, the scientists at King's College London analysed 12 raw or uncooked fresh foods - beetroot, bell pepper, broccoli, butternut squash, cauliflower, celeriac, curly kale, fennel, kiwi fruit, leek, pineapple and watermelon.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Take a deep breath in Hollywood’s Kimpton Everly Hotel and you may catch a whiff of sandalwood, leather, fennel, cardamom, violet and cedar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Subtle and savory, with pretty aromas of rose and fennel, a silky mineral mouth feel and flavors including ripe red cherry, wild strawberry and a hint of fresh herbs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Spinach, arugula, fennel, celery, and kale are also good dietary sources.
From Science Daily ● May 25, 2026
The doorways were decked with branches of green birch, long fennel, and St.-John’s-wort. Some had garlands of flowers—white lilies and such like.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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