Illustration of mustard
- mustard 2
mustard
noun
mus·tard ˈmə-stərd 
1
a
: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of various mustard plants (such as Sinapis alba, Brassica juncea, and B. nigra) either dry or made into a paste or sauce (as by mixing with water or vinegar) and sometimes adulterated with other substances (such as turmeric) or mixed with spices
b
: the seed of a mustard plant used as a spice and in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritant
c
slang : zest
2
: any of several herbs (genera Brassica and Sinapis of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods
3
: a dark to moderate yellow
mustardy
ˈmə-stər-dē
adjective 
Example Sentences
Would you like some mustard on your hot dog?
Recent Examples on the Web And for those looking for a not-a-care-in-the-world accessory: there’s a thin striped scarf in hues of light brown, mustard, and pink. 
Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2022 In between a whole wheat hoagie roll goes a pile of turkey breast (or turkey salad), alfalfa sprouts (for fiber), avocado slices, onions, havarti cheese, mustard, pickles and vinegar. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2022 Whisk together tequila, honey, vinegar, cilantro, lime juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. People Staff, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. Jill Andersen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2022 Many French staples, such as mustard, wine, peppers and mussels, have already been affected by the dry spell. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 Choose from honey mustard (pictured), black, and white. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 16 Aug. 2022 The country is having to adapt to a lingering shortage of the tangy mustard, including the Amora and Maille brands owned by consumer staples giant Unilever Plc, which has led to empty store shelves and frustration among French consumers. Albertina Torsoli, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2022 The country is having to adapt to a lingering shortage of the tangy mustard, which has led to empty store shelves and frustration among French consumers. BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 See More
Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2022 In between a whole wheat hoagie roll goes a pile of turkey breast (or turkey salad), alfalfa sprouts (for fiber), avocado slices, onions, havarti cheese, mustard, pickles and vinegar. Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2022 Whisk together tequila, honey, vinegar, cilantro, lime juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. People Staff, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2022 In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. Jill Andersen, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2022 Many French staples, such as mustard, wine, peppers and mussels, have already been affected by the dry spell. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 Choose from honey mustard (pictured), black, and white. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 16 Aug. 2022 The country is having to adapt to a lingering shortage of the tangy mustard, including the Amora and Maille brands owned by consumer staples giant Unilever Plc, which has led to empty store shelves and frustration among French consumers. Albertina Torsoli, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2022 The country is having to adapt to a lingering shortage of the tangy mustard, which has led to empty store shelves and frustration among French consumers. BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French mustarde, from must must, from Latin mustum
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing mustard
Kids Definition
mustard
noun
mus·tard ˈmə-stərd
: a sharp-tasting yellow powder that is prepared from the seeds of a plant related to the cabbage and is used especially as a seasoning for foods
Medical Definition
mustard
noun
mus·tard ˈməs-tərd
1
: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made into a paste and serving as a stimulant and diuretic or in large doses as an emetic and as a counterirritant when applied to the skin as a poultice
2
: any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods see black mustard sense 1, white mustard
3
a
: mustard gas
b
: nitrogen mustard