watercress

[ waw-ter-kres, wot-er- ]

/ ˈwɔ tərˌkrɛs, ˈwɒt ər- /

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noun

a cress, Nasturtium officinale, of the mustard family, usually growing in clear, running streams and having pungent leaves.

the leaves, used for salads, soups, and as a garnish.

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Origin of watercress

1300–50; Middle English; cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German waterkerse.See water, cress

Words nearby watercress

water-cool, water cooler, watercourse, watercraft, water crake, watercress, water cure, water curtain, water cycle, water diviner, waterdog

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use watercress in a sentence

More foraging pressure is being placed on locations with good water quality, as in the case of watercress.
The Foraging Wars: Extreme Eating Hits California|Debra A. Klein|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We also do a similar dish at Landmarc that I serve with watercress and lemon.
Fresh Picks|Marc Murphy|May 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It is also versatile as a soup base; add watercress and you have watercress soup, or stir in cream and chill it for a vichyssoise.
The Right Tools for the Job|Daily Beast Promotions|August 5, 2009|DAILY BEAST
In many parts of the country the watercress seems to have become completely naturalized, and is essentially a wild plant.
A Year in the Fields|John Burroughs

Down at the bottom a little brook trickles along from a cold spring, and watercress and forget-me-nots grow along its edges.
Mary Ware's Promised Land|Annie Fellows Johnston
Several kinds of endive as well as watercress may also be used for salad.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
If, however, you prefer turning it out on a platter, garnish the edges of the same with watercress or parsley.
Suppers|Paul Pierce
These greens are shown in Fig. 5, that at the left being watercress and that at the right parsley.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

British Dictionary definitions for watercress

watercress

/ (ˈwɔːtəˌkrɛs) /

noun

an Old World plant, Nasturtium officinale, of clear ponds and streams, having pungent leaves that are used in salads and as a garnish: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

any of several similar or related plants

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