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rapeseed

American  
[reyp-seed] / ˈreɪpˌsid /

noun

  1. Also called rape.  a plant, Brassica napus, of the mustard family, whose leaves are used as food for livestock.

  2. the seeds of this plant, which yield rapeseed oil.


rapeseed British  
/ ˈreɪpˌsiːd /

noun

  1. the seed of the rape plant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rapeseed

First recorded in 1525–35; rape 2 + seed

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.

See Examples For:

The same pattern appeared across several crops, including maize, tomato, and rapeseed, suggesting this is a widespread biological response rather than something unique to a single plant.

From Science Daily Jun. 29, 2026

The study also uncovered a previously unknown way these microbes protect crops such as maize, tomato, and rapeseed from salt stress.

From Science Daily Jun. 29, 2026

Sebastien Mery, who farms wheat and rapeseed in the Gatinais region, south of Paris, harvests early in the morning and late at night to avoid the worst of the heat.

From Barron's Jun. 23, 2026

Price gains for palm, soy, and sunflower oils—driven by seasonal supply slowdowns, tight export availability, and strong demand—more than offset a decline in rapeseed oil prices due to ample EU supplies.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 6, 2026

She knew every inch of it by heart: the curve of the stone fence that lined the road, the vibrant yellow of the rapeseed flowers blanketing the field next to the airstrip.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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