turnip

American  

[tur-nip] / ˈtɜr nɪp /

noun

turnips plural

1. the thick, fleshy, edible root of either of two plants of the mustard family, the white-fleshed Brassica rapa rapifera or the yellow-fleshed rutabaga.

2. the plant itself.

3. the root of this plant used as a vegetable.

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turnip British  

/ ˈtɜːnɪp /

noun

1. a widely cultivated plant, Brassica rapa , of the Mediterranean region, with a large yellow or white edible root: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

2. the root of this plant, which is eaten as a vegetable

3. any of several similar or related plants

4. another name for kohlrabi

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• turniplike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• turnips
  plural

Etymology

Origin of turnip

1525–35; earlier turnep(e) , equivalent to turn (with reference to its neatly rounded shape) + nepe neep

Compare meaning

How does turnip compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• rutabaga vs. turnip

Explanation

A turnip is a slightly bitter-flavored root vegetable. In Japan, it's common to pickle turnips and serve them as a cold snack or in a stir fry with other vegetables. You can recognize a turnip by its roundish shape and its white color, often accented at the top by pink or purple. Turnips also have green leaves that can be cooked and eaten. Some people also call rutabagas turnips, although these are actually a cross between a turnip and cabbage. Experts think the turn part of turnip stems from the idea that it looks like it's been turned, or rotated and shaped, on a lathe.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turnip turnips

About all he can tell us of daily life in the 16th century is that Muscovites loved turnip pie, had few chairs, and that glass was not to be had.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

The winner takes home a turnip impaled on a rusty six inch nail in a block of wood as a trophy and a blue plaque.

From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025

In gatherings, they savored rice cakes and turnip cakes, with children receiving cash-stuffed red envelopes as blessings from their married relatives.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024

We make a salad out of turnip sprouts.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2023

It usually had barley in it, and chunks of carrot and onion and turnip, and sometimes even apple, with a film of grease swimming on top.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

In the 19th century, children gobbled chiles and mutton and turnips and jellied pig’s brain.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

Yes, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer tucked in a bib and tucked into the haggis, accompanied by neeps and tatties, cute Scottish names for turnips and potatoes, mashed and buttered.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2025

The night is traditionally marked with a supper of haggis, accompanied by neeps and tatties - mashed turnips and potatoes.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2025

We also had a garden that produced most of the seasonal vegetables, legumes, potatoes and turnips, wheat, corn and fruits.

From Salon ● May 26, 2023

In place of gruel and stale bread and rotten meat, the usual dungeon fare, his keepers brought him fresh-caught fish, bread still warm from the oven, spiced mutton, turnips, carrots, even crabs.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin