turnip

American  

[tur-nip] / ˈtɜr nɪp /

noun

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

• turniplike adjective

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

Example Sentences

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

Boonthom had noticed her packing the harvested fruit — a turnip variety Yo describes as a “cross between a potato and an apple” — and had been love-struck.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023

While most dark green vegetables — especially collard greens, broccoli raab, turnip greens and kale — provide calcium, spinach and beet greens contain oxalic acid, which makes their calcium unavailable to us.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2023

I'm partial to celeriac, rutabaga, turnip, radish and the like.

From Salon • May 14, 2023

Next to me, under the turnip sacks, Grover tensed.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan