carrot

car-rot · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    An orange root vegetable eaten raw or cooked.

  2. 2.

    The plant that produces this vegetable.

  3. 3.

    (informal) An enticement or incentive offered to persuade someone.

  4. 4.

    (informal) A red-haired person.

Forms

plural: carrots

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    carrot and stick — a combination of reward and punishment to induce behavior
  • •
    dangle a carrot — to offer an incentive
  • •
    carrot top — a person with red hair

Related words

See also: food, orange, root, vegetable

Etymology

From French "carotte," from Latin "carota," from Greek "karoton" meaning carrot. The vegetable was originally purple or white; orange carrots were developed in the Netherlands in the 17th century.