broccoli
/ˈbrɒkəli
/noun [mass noun]
A cultivated variety of cabbage which bears heads of green or purplish flower buds that are eaten as a vegetable.
- There are several kinds of broccoli, in particular those in the ‘Italica’ group, including sprouting broccoli, which bears small loose clusters of heads on several shoots, and the bright green dense-headed variety which is also called calabrese.
- The vegetable garden is doing quite well, with spuds, broccoli, onions, cabbage and garlic all starting to grow.
- Plant out winter greens, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, in the vegetable plot.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Italian, plural of broccolo 'cabbage sprout, head', diminutive of brocco 'shoot', based on Latin brocchus, broccus 'projecting'.