Main Entry:

cau·li·flow·er

Pronunciation:

\ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r, ˈkä-, -lē-\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Italian cavolfiore, from cavolo cabbage (from Late Latin caulus, from Latin caulis stem, cabbage) + fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at cole, blow

Date:

1597

: a garden plant (Brassica oleracea botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers ; also : its flower cluster used as a vegetable