Cauliflower

//ˈkɔl.ɪˌflaʊ.ɚ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, an annual variety of cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable. countable, uncountable

    "ASPARAGUS, cauliflowers, imperial Sileſia, royal and cabbage lettuces, burnet, purſlain, cucumbers, naſturtian flowers, peaſe and beans ſown in October, artichokes, ſcarlet ſtrawberries, and kidney beans."

  2. 2
    compact head of white undeveloped flowers wordnet
  3. 3
    The edible head or curd of a cauliflower plant. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    a plant having a large edible head of crowded white flower buds wordnet
  5. 5
    The swelling of a cauliflower ear. countable, uncountable

    "His ears were small (fortunately so, given his dramatic hairstyle) and bore no traditional cauliflowers."

Verb
  1. 1
    To (cause to) swell up like a cauliflower ear. ambitransitive

    "I noticed his right ear was badly cauliflowered and that explained a number of things. It wasn't a new job of cauliflowering."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From 16th century cole-florye, equivalent to cole (from Latin caulis) + flower, reformed to more closely match the Latin etymon. Cognate with French chou-fleur, Italian cavolfiore.

Etymology 2

From 16th century cole-florye, equivalent to cole (from Latin caulis) + flower, reformed to more closely match the Latin etymon. Cognate with French chou-fleur, Italian cavolfiore.

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