noun / verb
pepper
PEP-er/ˈpepər/
A pungent spice made from dried peppercorns.
Whole black peppercorns lie beside a small pile of ground pepper.
Etymology
Latin piper names pepper itself. The English word originally referred to the pepper plant's dried berries—the same material used whole or ground as the pungent spice.
In context
One and a half teaspoons of salt. I use kersher salt, one teaspoon of pepper, and half a teaspoon of dried oregano.
More examples
- I pepper the eggs lightly before taking a bite.
- Black pepper gives this creamy sauce a sharp bite.
- Hailstones pepper the roof during the storm.
Forms
pepper · peppers · peppered · peppering
peppery adjective — Having the sharp taste of pepper.
peppercorn noun — A dried berry used to make pepper.