pepper

[pep-er]

noun

1. a pungent condiment obtained from various plants of the genus Piper, especially from the dried berries, used whole or ground, of the tropical climbing shrub P. nigrum.

2. any plant of the genus Piper.

3. any of several plants of the genus Capsicum, especially C. annuum, cultivated in many varieties, or C. frutescens.

4. the usually green or red fruit of any of these plants, ranging from mild to very pungent in flavor.

5. the pungent seeds of several varieties of C. annuum or C. frutescens, used ground or whole as a condiment.

6. Baseball.,  pepper game.

verb (used with object)

1. to season with or as if with pepper.

2. to sprinkle or cover, as if with pepper; dot.

3. to sprinkle like pepper.

4. to hit with rapidly repeated short jabs.

5. to pelt with or as if with shot or missiles.

   They peppered the speaker with hard questions.

6. to discharge (shot or missiles) at something.

pepper

/ ˈpɛpə /

noun

1. a woody climbing plant, Piper nigrum, of the East Indies, having small black berry-like fruits: family Piperaceae

2. the dried fruit of this plant, which is ground to produce a sharp hot condiment See also black pepper white pepper

3. any of various other plants of the genus Piper See cubeb betel kava

4. Also called: capsicum. any of various tropical plants of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, esp C. frutescens, the fruits of which are used as a vegetable and a condiment See also bird pepper sweet pepper red pepper cayenne pepper

5. the fruit of any of these capsicums, which has a mild or pungent taste

6. the condiment made from the fruits of any of these plants

7. any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as water pepper

verb

1. to season with pepper

2. to sprinkle liberally; dot

   his prose was peppered with alliteration

3. to pelt with small missiles

Other Word Forms

• pepperer noun
• pepperish adjective
• pepperishly adverb
• unpeppered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper¹

before 1000; Middle English peper, piper, Old English pipor (> Old Norse pipari, piparr ) < Latin piper < Greek péperi; compare Old Frisian piper, Dutch peper, Old High German pfeffar ( German Pfeffer ); these and Old English pipor perhaps < a common West Germanic borrowing < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper¹

Old English piper, from Latin, from Greek peperi; compare French poivre, Old Norse piparr

Example Sentences

Despite the name, these aren’t peppers at all but members of the citrus family that trigger a numbing, tingling sensation on the tongue.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She made no attempt to cheer Penelope or pepper her with questions or advice.

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The children were also interested in the almanac, and peppered her with questions.

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Back then the only things Mama purchased from the store were coffee beans, granulated sugar, salt, and pepper.

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I added a little more butter, then, with a thrill of reckless curiosity, drizzled in maple syrup, white miso, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds and oregano, watching each addition dissolve and bloom.

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Related Words

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