pepper
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.
any plant of the genus Piper.: Compare pepper family.
any of several plants of the genus Capsicum, especially C. annuum, cultivated in many varieties, or C. frutescens.
the usually green or red fruit of any of these plants, ranging from mild to very pungent in flavor.
the pungent seeds of several varieties of C. annuum or C. frutescens, used ground or whole as a condiment.
Baseball. pepper game.
to season with or as if with pepper.
to sprinkle or cover, as if with pepper; dot.
to sprinkle like pepper.
to hit with rapidly repeated short jabs.
to pelt with or as if with shot or missiles: They peppered the speaker with hard questions.
to discharge (shot or missiles) at something.
Origin of pepper
1Other words from pepper
- pep·per·er, noun
- pep·per·ish, adjective
- pep·per·ish·ly, adverb
- un·pep·pered, adjective
Words Nearby pepper
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pepper in a sentence
My introduction to jerk chicken — its skin soaked in the flavor of sweet smoke, of Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice berries, ginger, and green onion — was during my first year of college, across the Hudson river from a New York town called Kingston.
Until I Can Go Back to My Favorite Restaurant, This Jerk Paste Is the Next Best Thing | Elazar Sontag | September 25, 2020 | EaterOthers will also layer on a hint of ground chile or pepper to add a subtle kick.
Turn a cheap chicken dinner into a Turkish street-food getaway | SAVEUR Editors | September 25, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThe indictment accused him of using pepper spray on a handcuffed woman, filing a false report about the encounter and encouraging other officers to fake their reports, too.
How Criminal Cops Often Avoid Jail | by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press | September 23, 2020 | ProPublicaHow law enforcement cleared protesters In the same June 2 statement, Park Police said officers used “smoke canisters and pepper balls” to clear protesters but “did not use tear gas or OC Skat Shells.”
How the Trump administration has tried to explain clearing protesters from Lafayette Square | JM Rieger | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostRivera calls adobo and sazón the salt and pepper of Puerto Rican cooking, and he wants his customers to use the products exactly like that.
Whisk in the half and half and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Make Carla Hall’s Crispy Shallot Green Bean Casserole | Carla Hall | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRub the loin with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries | Carla Hall | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSage and sausage patty came next, served between cumin scented Buttermilk biscuits and smothered in a black pepper country gravy.
Dinner at Nitehawk Cinema: ‘Christmas Vacation’ and a Beer in a Pear Tree | Rich Goldstein | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLong gone are the days of the Young British Artists movement: now a salt-and-pepper-haired filmmaker is the artist of the moment.
Brush the pastry with egg wash and sprinkle with fleur de sel and pepper.
One whist table only is at work; General pepper and three old hands of the same kidney are hard at it.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsAs, during the whole pepper-harvest, they feed wholly on this stimulant, they become exceedingly irritable.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various"I think at least one of us ought to stay here until Mr. Ford comes," said pepper.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall | Arthur M. Winfield"Let us go down the shore a bit," suggested Jack to pepper and Andy, and the three joined hands for the spin.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall | Arthur M. WinfieldJack and pepper watched Ritter closely and then looked questioningly at each other.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall | Arthur M. Winfield
British Dictionary definitions for pepper
/ (ˈpɛpə) /
a woody climbing plant, Piper nigrum, of the East Indies, having small black berry-like fruits: family Piperaceae
the dried fruit of this plant, which is ground to produce a sharp hot condiment: See also black pepper, white pepper
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
the fruit of any of these capsicums, which has a mild or pungent taste
the condiment made from the fruits of any of these plants
any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as water pepper
to season with pepper
to sprinkle liberally; dot: his prose was peppered with alliteration
to pelt with small missiles
Origin of pepper
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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