Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

baby broccoli

noun

Definition of baby broccoli

: a green vegetable plant that is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli and produces long, thin, tender stems and loose clusters of yellow florets Baby broccoli has thinner stems than regular broccoli and long, feathery flowers that cook up nicely in this mixed-rice risotto.— Martha Rose Shulman, New York Times, 4 Sept. 2012

Note: Baby broccoli is often sold under the trademark Broccolini.

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of baby broccoli

1971, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about baby broccoli

Share baby broccoli

Statistics for baby broccoli

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for baby broccoli

The first known use of baby broccoli was in 1971

See more words from the same year

Comments on baby broccoli

What made you want to look up baby broccoli? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

gargantuan

tremendous in size, volume, or degree

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games