mustard

American  

[muhs-terd] / ˈmʌs tərd /

noun

1. a pungent powder or paste prepared from the seeds of certain mustard plants, used as a food seasoning or condiment, and medicinally in plasters, poultices, etc.

2. Botany. any of various cruciferous plants of the mustard family, noted for their acrid and pungent qualities and widely cultivated for culinary and agricultural purposes: among the most commercially important mustards are black mustard, brown mustard, and white mustard.

3. nitrogen mustard.

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idioms

1. cut the mustard, to reach or surpass the desired standard of performance.

   a pitcher who cuts the mustard with his fastball.

mustard British  

/ ˈmʌstəd /

noun

1. any of several Eurasian plants of the genus Brassica, esp black mustard and white mustard, having yellow or white flowers and slender pods and cultivated for their pungent seeds: family Brassicaceae (crucifers) See also charlock

2. a paste made from the powdered seeds of any of these plants and used as a condiment

3. 1. a brownish-yellow colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a mustard carpet

4. slang zest or enthusiasm

5. slang to come up to expectations

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mustard More Idioms  

1. see cut the mustard.

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Etymology

Origin of mustard

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mostard(e), mustart, from Old French mostarde, moustarde, a relish originally made of mustard seed and must, equivalent to moust + -arde; must ², -ard

Explanation

Mustard is the yellow sauce people commonly use to spice up their hotdogs. Whether it's ballpark mustard or fancy Grey Poupon, it's a condiment made from the ground seeds of the mustard plant. Mustard comes in several different forms, including the bright yellow kind in a packet at your favorite fast food restaurant and the brownish, slightly coarse mustard that comes in a fancy jar labeled "Dijon." All of these mustards are made from mustard seeds and spices, often mixed with lemon juice and salt. The plant that grows these seeds also produces edible leaves called "mustard greens."

Example Sentences

The deal comes as McCormick, which sells French’s mustard, Old Bay seasoning and Frank’s RedHot sauces along with its spice range, was struggling as consumers’ spending and eating habits are in flux.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

McCormick MKC 2.89%increase; green up pointing triangle has excelled at the former, building a small empire out of Frank’s RedHot, French’s mustard and Cholula hot sauce.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Acai bowls were recalled over possible plastic contamination, while sesame miso salad and hot honey mustard dressing were recalled over undeclared allergens.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

It is slow, unglamorous work for his volunteers wearing shirts and caps in party colours of ketchup red and mustard yellow, often involving speaking to groups of just a handful of voters at a time.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

Just before we lay down to sleep, Mrs. Lai gave Sass some mustard oil and camphor to rub on Hari’s chest.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

Related Words

• dressing
• gravy
• horseradish
• ketchup
• pepper
• relish
• salsa
• salt
• sauce
• seasoning
• spice