rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycauliflowerPale-headed vegetable
noun

cauliflower

KAH-lee-flow-er/ˈkɑːliflaʊər/

A vegetable with a compact, usually white head of undeveloped flowers.

The cauliflower has a compact ivory head surrounded by curled green leaves.

A single fresh cauliflower, shown close up with its compact ivory head exposed above a few curled green wrapper leaves.
Etymology
cauliItaliancabbage
+flowerItalianflower

The name describes a “flowered cabbage”: its compact white head consists of young, undeveloped flowers. The flower element therefore identifies the distinctive edible part of this cabbage variety.

In context

Utah State University Extension18:58
You also get hollow stalks in cauliflower and broccoli. And the heads of broccoli and cauliflower have brown sunken areas.
Vegetable Disease Updates Brassica Crop Focus

More examples

  • Roasted cauliflower accompanies the main course.
  • The garden produces several large cauliflowers.
  • Green leaves curl around the cauliflower's compact head.

Forms

cauliflower · cauliflowers

Similar words

broccoli
A related vegetable typically having green branching flower heads.
cabbage
A related vegetable grown for its tightly packed leaves.