noun
broccoli
BRAH-kuh-lee/ˈbrɑːkəli/
A green vegetable with clustered flower heads and thick stalks.
The broccoli head branches into tight clusters of green buds.
Etymology
Brocco could mean a shoot as well as a protruding tooth or small nail. Its diminutive gives “little sprouts,” naming the vegetable through its sprouting growth.
In context
broccoli one of the most popular vegetables in the world stands out for its high nutritional value and fresh taste
More examples
- She steamed the broccoli.
- The soup contained chopped broccoli.
- A floret of broccoli fell from the plate.
Forms
broccoli
Similar words
- cauliflower
- Has a more compact pale head in common varieties.
- broccolini
- Usually has longer, thinner stems and smaller heads.