eggplant

noun

egg·​plant ˈeg-ˌplant 

ˈāg-

1

a

: a widely cultivated perennial Asian herb (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family yielding edible fruit

b

: the usually smooth ovoid typically blackish-purple or white fruit of the eggplant

2

: a dark grayish or blackish purple

Examples of eggplant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Maintain Summer soil will need replenishing for heavy feeding plants such as tomatoes, eggplant, and squash. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 6 June 2024

If your tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, etc., are not yet producing, don’t worry. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2024

Around us, vendors perch on their boats, trading squash and eggplant, sharing cigarettes and stories. —Julian Manning, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2023

Some items on the menu: meatball sandwiches ($11), stromboli ($7), lasagna ($12) and eggplant Parmigiana ($10) — that’s the favorite of one of the customers in line Friday. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing eggplant

• Japanese eggplant

Kids Definition

eggplant

noun

egg·​plant -ˌplant 

1

: a widely cultivated herb that is related to the potato and yields edible fruit

2

: the usually glossy blackish purple egg-shaped fruit of an eggplant