cauliflower

cauliflower
/kaw"leuh flow'euhr, -lee-, kol"euh-, kol"ee-/, n.
1. a form of cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea botrytis, of the mustard family, whose inflorescence forms a compact, usually whitish head. Cf. broccoli.
2. this head, used as a vegetable.
[1590-1600; < L cauli(s) COLE + FLOWER; r. coleflorie < It ca(v)olfiore, equiv. to cavol cole + fiore < L flori- (s. of flos) flower]

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Form of cabbage (Brassica oleracea, Botrytis group) in the mustard family, consisting of a compact terminal mass of greatly thickened, modified, and partially developed flower structures, together with their embracing fleshy stalks.

This terminal cluster forms a firm, white, succulent "curd" that is served as a cooked vegetable and is highly nutritious. The separated flower structures are also eaten raw.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea, Botrytis group).

Derek Fell

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▪ plant
 (Brassica oleracea, Botrytis group) form of cabbage, of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), consisting of a compact terminal mass of greatly thickened, modified, and partially developed flower structures, together with their subtending fleshy stalks.

      As desired for food, this terminal cluster forms a firm, white, succulent “curd.” The broad, much-elongated leaves extend far above this curd. In most varieties the leaves must be tied together well above the curd, or broken over it, several days before harvest to prevent discoloration of the curd by sunlight.

      Cauliflower is frequently served as a cooked vegetable, and the separated flower structures are also used in salads and as relishes in raw form.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cauliflower — Cauliflower, cultivar unknown Details Species Brassica oleracea Cultivar group …   Wikipedia

  • Cauliflower — Cau li*flow er, n. [F. choufleur, modified by E. Cole. L. caulis, and by E. flower; F. chou cabbage is fr. L. caulis stalk, cabbage, and fleur flower is fr. L. flos flower. See {Cole}, and {Flower}.] 1. (Bot.) An annual variety of {Brassica… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cauliflower — 1590s, originally cole florye, from It. cavoli fiori flowered cabbage, pl. of cavolo cabbage + fiore flower (from L. FLORA (Cf. flora)). First element is from L. caulis cabbage (originally stem, stalk ) which was borrowed into Germanic and is the …   Etymology dictionary

  • cauliflower — ► NOUN ▪ a variety of cabbage with a large flower head of small creamy white flower buds, eaten as a vegetable. ORIGIN from obsolete French chou fleuri flowered cabbage …   English terms dictionary

  • cauliflower — [kô′lə flou΄ər; ] often, [kul′əflou΄ər] n. [earlier cole florye (altered after COLE) < It cavolfiore (< cavolo, cabbage + fiore, flower) > Fr chou fleur; mod. sp. after L caulis, cabbage] 1. a variety of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var.… …   English World dictionary

  • cauliflower — n. 1 a variety of cabbage with a large immature flower head of small usu. creamy white flower buds. 2 the flower head eaten as a vegetable. Phrases and idioms: cauliflower cheese a savoury dish of cauliflower in a cheese sauce. cauliflower ear an …   Useful english dictionary

  • cauliflower — UK [ˈkɒlɪˌflaʊə(r)] / US [ˈkɑlɪˌflaʊr] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms cauliflower : singular cauliflower plural cauliflowers a vegetable with a hard round white central part surrounded by green leaves …   English dictionary

  • cauliflower — noun /ˈkɒl.i.flaʊ.ə(ɹ),ˈkɒl.ɪ.flaʊ.ə(ɹ)/ a) An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable. b) The edible head or “curd” of a cauliflower plant …   Wiktionary

  • cauliflower — [16] Cauliflower is literally ‘flowered cabbage’. English probably borrowed and adapted the word from Italian cavoli fiori, plural of cavolo fiore ‘cabbage flower’. Cavolo came from late Latin caulus, a variant of Latin caulis ‘cabbage’. This… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • cauliflower — [[t]kɒ̱liflaʊə(r), AM kɔ͟ː [/t]] cauliflowers N VAR Cauliflower is a large round vegetable that has a hard white centre surrounded by green leaves …   English dictionary

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